In a recent development within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has reportedly taken legal action against the National Working Committee (NWC), the Governors Forum, and other party bodies in a bid to secure control of the Rivers State PDP structure. This was revealed by Umar Sani, the former Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to former Vice President Namadi Sambo, during an interview with Arise News FROM 3:07.
“As I’m speaking to you, Wike has taken the NWC, the Governors Forum, and any other instruments that can stop him from owning the Rivers State PDP structure to court,” Sani disclosed. He stressed that Wike’s legal maneuvers are aimed at consolidating his influence over the party’s structure in his home state as the PDP navigates a delicate phase of internal politics.
The tension comes at a time when the Rivers State PDP is preparing for upcoming local government elections. According to Sani, Wike’s court order is intended to neutralize opposition to his control, but the process of establishing party structures is far from complete.
“The court order he secured cannot stand because the process is ongoing,” Sani argued. He elaborated that the formation of party structures requires approval by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP, a body that has yet to meet on the matter. “Before a decision would have been taken to say that a structure has been formed, it has to be passed by the NEC of the party,” Sani added, expressing confidence that Wike’s attempt to dominate the party structure in Rivers State could ultimately fail.
Wike’s legal battle has been interpreted by many political observers as a strategy to weaken the sitting Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, preventing him from using the state’s PDP structure to consolidate his own political power.
In his words;
“As I’m speaking to you, Wike has taken the NWC, the Governor’s forum and any and any other instruments that can stop him from owning the Rivers State PDP structure to court. Time is of the essence and a Local Government election has been formed. Although I believe going to court and the court order he secured cannot stand because the process is ongoing. Before a decision would have been taken to say that a structure has been formed, until it has been passed by the National Executive Committee of the party and the National Executive Committee of the party is yet to meet. The idea is to weaken the governor from using the structure in the state”