By Mohammed Bello Doka
The deepening crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken another dramatic twist, as the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) has officially disowned the South-South Zonal Congress organized by allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. In what many see as a significant political blow to Wike’s camp, the PDP leadership declared the congress unauthorized and invalid, further fueling tensions within the opposition party.
The controversial congress, held in Calabar, was reportedly spearheaded by Wike’s loyalists in a bid to assert dominance over the South-South region, a traditional stronghold of the PDP. However, the party’s leadership quickly moved to neutralize the move, issuing a firm statement that the congress was neither sanctioned nor recognized. According to the NWC, the event was unapproved, and any decisions or resolutions reached there would be deemed null and void.
A Struggle for Supremacy in PDP
This latest development is being interpreted as a strategic maneuver to curb Wike’s growing influence within the party. The NWC insisted that the congress had been postponed to allow for wider consultations, an indication that the party hierarchy is working to reassert its authority and prevent Wike’s camp from taking unilateral decisions.
Political analysts suggest that this move is part of a broader scheme to sideline the FCT Minister, who has been embroiled in a long-standing power tussle with the PDP leadership, particularly since his fallout over the party’s handling of the 2023 presidential election. Many believe that Wike’s decision to work with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) despite being a PDP member has further alienated him from the party’s core leadership.
Wike’s Defiance and Growing Isolation
Despite the NWC’s decision, Wike has remained defiant, insisting that the congress was valid and binding. Sources close to the minister argue that he remains a formidable force within the PDP and that the party’s leadership is merely attempting to weaken his political base. However, with the NWC’s pronouncement, it appears Wike’s grip on the party structure in the South-South is loosening, leaving his political future within the PDP uncertain.
This episode marks yet another chapter in the ongoing internal struggle within the PDP, which has been plagued by divisions and infighting. With the 2027 elections on the horizon, the stakes are higher than ever, and it remains to be seen whether Wike can weather this storm or if the party will ultimately move on without him. One thing is clear: the PDP crisis is far from over, and Wike may find himself increasingly isolated as the battle for control rages on.