A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dele Momodu, says the loss Nyesome Wike suffered at the party’s presidential primaries in 2022 and his lingering disappointment is a significant factor in the ongoing crisis in the party.
According to him, the PDP has been grappling with internal conflicts since that primary, which saw Wike lose to Atiku Abubakar.
“The first issue was that he (Wike) lost the primary in 2022 to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and since then, it seems he’s not been able to get over such disappointment,” Momodu stated in an interview with Arise TV.
Wike’s confidence in securing the party’s presidential ticket and potentially becoming Nigeria’s next president made the loss particularly painful.
Wike’s subsequent formation of the G5, alongside four other PDP governors, to oppose Atiku’s victory in the 2023 presidential election, further exacerbated the party’s internal strife. This rift ultimately contributed to the PDP’s defeat and prolonged the crisis.
READ ALSO: PDP leaders disagree on cause of party’s woes, blame Wike, Atiku
However, in a recent development, Bala Mohammed, chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, declared the crisis resolved. The forum directed the national working committee (NWC) to revert to the status quo, involving governors, the board of trustees, and other party organs.
Momodu commended the forum’s efforts, urging Wike to “step back from the intensifying party conflicts” for unity’s sake. “I believe that it is a very good start… finally, the PDP Governors’ Forum is rising up to its responsibilities,” he said.
Additionally, Momodu expressed concern over Wike’s unexpected rift with Siminalayi Fubara, Rivers state governor. He acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s role in resolving the situation and encouraged Wike and Fubara to reconcile.
“If I was in the shoes of Nyesom Wike, the moment the president intervened positively, I expected him to step back,” Momodu advised. “He advised them to go back to the status quo and maintain the status quo.”
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