PDP Crisis: 10 party secrets governor Wike revealed in famous interview

The die is cast, and the crisis within the ranks of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) just got even more intense than it gets.

Governor Nyesom Wike who has been at the center of the ongoing crisis staged a media parley with journalists 48 hours after he and his cohorts withdrew from the presidential campaign council of the PDP.

Governor Nyesom Wike organised a media chat with journalists while he answered critical questions about the ongoing PDP crisis.

The Rivers state governor who has not hidden his grouse against some of the party chieftains revealed some astonishing details of how the crisis emanated.

During the interview that was held on Friday, September 23 in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, Governor Wike revealed the following:

1. Zoning crisis

According to The Nation, Governor Wike made reference to the jettisoned zoning policy that was displaced by some of the party big wigs as the antecedent of the ongoing crisis. Governor Wike said the stipulations of the party constitution were clear and the presidential ticket was meant to go to the southern region.

2. Ayu's factor

Governor Wike vehemently criticised the national chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia which he tagged as one who lacks a trustworthy character. He made this comment on the premise of Ayu's promise to resign if the presidential candidate of the party emerges from the northern region of Nigeria which happens to be his own region as well. Sadly, Senator Ayu did not keep to his words, an act that nauseated Governor Wike.

3. Convention Palava

The River state governor was highly critical of the presidential primaries that saw the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the party. Wike, however, revealed that he let down his guard on the issue based on the love he has for the party.

4. Ayu's abuse of office and plot against Wike

Governor Wike further called out Senator Ayu accusing the Benue state-born politician of masterminding his loss at the PDP convention in May.

5. Atiku's lack of integrity

He also accused the presidential candidate of the party of lacking integrity while giving an instance of a meeting he had with the former vice-president. Governor Wike revealed that they both reached an agreement that Senator Ayu will vacate his position as the national chairman of the party but failed to uphold the agreement. He further alleged that a second meeting in the UK between them also concluded on the same arrangement but Atiku cited constitutional defects as the reason why he did not take the decision.

6. PDP is arrogant and needs restructuring

Wike, however, urged that the party needs a total restructuring of its leadership system so as to avoid marginalisation. He stated that the issue of marginalisation within the party is sending the wrong signals to Nigerians about the party.

7. Atiku is surrounded by those without much political value He poked fingers at the Waziri from Yobe State as one of those who have lacked electoral value.

Wike said: “Those asking the party to sanction me, especially Waziri from Yobe State lack electoral values. Since 1999, PDP has never won Yobe,” he stated.

8. Wike dares PDP to sanction him

During the interview, Governor Wike boasted that nobody in the party can sanction him noting that they know what he is capable of and the stuff he is made of if they dare try go the route.

9. No support for Atiku until demands are met

Governor Wike in the interview further stated that meeting the demands tabled before the other section of the party is very critical to the party's success in the 2023 general elections.

Wike said: “Haven’t you seen where a senatorial candidate lost in an area while the governorship candidate from the same party won in that same place?”

10. There is nothing that justifies Ayu remaining in the office. Ayu should demonstrate that he loves the PDP by resigning. The NEC can meet and take the decision and later rectify it in a convention after the election.