Wike’s loyalists battle Atiku for soul of PDP, resists expulsion

Loyalists of the former governor of Rivers state, Nyesome Wike are spoiling for war over plans by some group within the party loyal to Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the party in the last general elections to expel the former governor.

It was gathered that Wike’s nomination for a ministerial position in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government was the reason for a crucial meeting of stakeholders in the PDP considered to be loyal to Atiku Abubakar held during the weekend at the instance of Atiku in his residence.

Most of the attendees at the meeting rooted for Wike’s expulsion, while some feared that it may further divide the PDP and lead to an “ANPP” syndrome.

You would recall that Atiku defeated Wike at the Party primaries and clinched the ticket as the flagbearer of the PDP during the last election. The defeat of the former soon turned into Atiku’s unmaking at the Presidential election after mismanaged internal infractions within the party reportedly orchestrated his defeat at the polls.

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Wike openly criticized Atiku especially when the former Vice President failed to pick him as his running mate but went ahead to make what was largely considered snide comments against the former governor on live Tv.

The development led to the founding of the G5 group spearheaded by Wike which is believed to have worked for the opposition during the Presidential election. Already, the G5 also known as Wike’s group floored Atiku’s group in the battle for minority leader position both in the Senate and House of Reps, after successfully installing Simon Davou Mwadkwon (Plateau) as Senate minority leader and Kingsley Chinda (Rivers) minority leader in the House of reps.

The defeat of the Atiku loyalists in the national assembly, led by former governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, was considered another kick in the teeth.

The PDP situation has been complicated with the nomination of Wike, whom Atiku defeated in the party’s presidential primary last year, by President Bola Tinubu for a ministerial position in the APC government.

An NWC member explained that the “elders and stakeholders” that met with Atiku last weekend do not hold any official position in the PDP and are not constitutionally empowered to suspend Wike.

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Iyorchia Ayu, the former national chairman who was suspended through a court order, attended the meeting.

However, a former governor who is loyal said most NWC members “have sold their souls to Wike” and are no longer trusted to do what is right for the party.

Atiku’s biggest supporters — Sule Lamido, former governor of Jigawa, Babangida Aliyu, former governor of Niger, and Adamu Maina Waziri, former minister — have moved against the acting chairman of the party, Umar Ililya Damagum, over allegations that he was hobnobbing with Wike.

Damagum and Ahmadu Fintiri, the governor of Adamawa, Atiku’s home state, are accused of “hobnobbing” with Wike.

The Atiku loyalists also alleged that Damagum “mismanaged” the funds he inherited from the Ayu-led NWC, an allegation he denies.