At this point, it is safe to say no matter how well you keep up with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its leaders and all the drama within, you cannot predict what happens in the next event or episode.
Last time was the raging call for the resignation of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, and for a candidate from the South to replace him. Nigerians were, however, hit with a plot twist where Walid Jibrin resigned his position as the chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT). He cited his desire for peace in the party and his commitment to the victory of the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as his reasons for resigning.
“We all want to make Atiku Abubakar become the president by all means, and that is why I sincerely decided to step down from the BoT,” he announced at the BoT meeting on September 8. “I discussed this with the candidate and he agreed with me. I am sure if the party wins, I will be given a bigger position.”
He was immediately replaced by a former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, from Abia State, who would serve in an acting capacity.
Many, particularly in the Atiku camp, believed that Mr Jibrin’s resignation and Mr Wabara’s appointment will bring the much-needed reconciliation and peace that the party needs especially since Mr Wabara is from the South East.
The push for reconciliation in the party was borne out of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike’s anger at the party and some party members for “breaching its constitution” and betraying him during the presidential primary in May.
Having lost the presidential ticket to Atiku and after Atiku failed to pick him as the vice-presidential candidate, Mr Wike would go on to threaten to work against the party in the 2023 general elections.
Besides bragging about having control over the votes that come from his state during elections, the governor also claims to be influential in many other states outside the South-south region – enough to garner an impressive number of votes from those states for any candidate he chooses to support.
party and some party members for “breaching its constitution” and betraying him during the presidential primary in May.
Having lost the presidential ticket to Atiku and after Atiku failed to pick him as the vice-presidential candidate, Mr Wike would go on to threaten to work against the party in the 2023 general elections.
Besides bragging about having control over the votes that come from his state during elections, the governor also claims to be influential in many other states outside the South-south region – enough to garner an impressive number of votes from those states for any candidate he chooses to support.
Well, Atiku and his camp would later tweak Mr Wike’s request and deliver Mr Jibrin as the sacrificial lamb – a sacrifice that was clearly not enough to appease the governor.
The ‘disrespect’ continues
A “shame”, an “insult” and a few other words similar to these were Mr Wike’s reaction to Mr Jibrin’s resignation.
In his ‘usual expeditious manner’, to borrow the words of President Muhammadu Buhari in his letters to the Senate, Mr Wike would go on to lament how the PDP is unserious and unprepared for the 2023 polls and how the party comprises many enemies within and how he, again, fought for the survival of the party after it became an opposition.
Mr Wike also made the list. He was named a member of the council.
“A whole Wike, member?!” were the reactions of many Nigerians who saw the list.
You would think that with his anger and threats and for failing to give in to his demands, the PDP would consider him for one of the top positions in the Council – or so many thought.
Different reactions have trailed the composition of the PCC and Mr Wike’s appointment as a member. While many say all the regions were properly represented on the list, others are of the opinion that the Council headed by Mr Tambuwal, is unfair to the South.
For Philip Aivoji, the PDP chairman, Lagos State, the South was properly represented on the Council, especially with the appointment of Governor Udom Emmanuel as chairman.
Another argument would be that it is not entirely safe to entrust Mr Wike with a huge responsibility on the Council, especially since he still holds a grudge against Atiku – the candidate he should be campaigning for.
The party’s failure to remove Mr Ayu as national chairman last week spelt ‘do your worst’ for Mr Wike and his team. But with the PCC list and Mr Wike’s appointment as a member, it appears the governor has been ‘re-relegated.’
