Nyesom Wike, once a towering figure in Nigeria’s opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is now facing calls for his ouster. Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki, a key strategist for the party’s 2023 Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, declared that Wike’s removal is crucial for the survival of the party.
Wike, previously the governor of Rivers State and now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has been a controversial figure within the PDP for some time. Obaseki, in a recent press interaction, highlighted Wike’s series of acts which he perceives as betrayals against the party. Chief among these is Wike’s call for the suspension of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is a prominent figure in PDP politics.
“Wike has been at the center of the internal turmoil of the PDP,” said Obaseki. The strategist went on to explain how Wike’s political machinations, beginning with his support for Uche Secondus for the party’s chairmanship, have consistently disrupted party unity. The culmination of these actions resulted in Wike’s defeat at the PDP’s presidential primaries, a result that seems to have left him disgruntled.
Wike’s alleged creation of a faction within the party, referred to as the G-5, is another significant point of contention. Obaseki argues that this move directly challenges the party’s constitution and structures, representing a blatant act of rebellion. Furthermore, several prominent members of the PDP, including former governors Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State and Dave Umahi, have cited Wike as a primary reason for their exit from the party.
The turbulence around Wike does not stop with internal party dynamics. The Minister’s critics claim he has been leveraging his wealth and influence to push back against his detractors aggressively. “We won’t allow him to dominate the party and the Nigerian majority as he did with Rivers people for eight years,” Obaseki warned, highlighting the high stakes of this political standoff.
Atiku Abubakar, speaking about a past event, recollected his efforts to campaign for regions of the country that hadn’t yet had a turn at leadership since 1966. He indicated that Wike, due to his geographical proximity to the home state of former PDP president, Jonathan, shouldn’t have sought the presidency.
This political drama also has broader implications. The battle over what some in the PDP describe as a ‘stolen mandate’ is now heading to the Supreme Court. As the nation watches closely, there’s a sense that this dispute is not merely about personal rivalries but the very future of Nigeria’s democratic processes.
With national elections looming, the outcome of this internal conflict could reshape the political landscape of Africa’s most populous country.
