The recent alliance of several governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has caught the attention of Atiku Abubakar’s faction within the party.
Atiku, who has been the PDP’s presidential candidate in both the 2019 and 2023 elections, is facing growing concerns over this development.
Demola Olarewaju, Atiku’s Special Assistant on Digital Media and Strategy, voiced his frustrations on social media, indicating that these governors are at the heart of the PDP’s current issues. He labeled anyone associated with Wike as a traitor to the party.
“Wike’s influence in Nigeria’s political arena hinges on his ability to destabilize the PDP and diminish its strength,” Olarewaju stated in his post. He did not hold back, asserting that the governors have been the primary source of the party’s struggles since 2015.
He elaborated, “Each significant crisis within the PDP can be traced back to the allocation of National Working Committee (NWC) positions to specific governors after we lost power in Aso Rock. Many of us foresaw this situation unfolding back in 2015.”
The ongoing discord within the PDP is exacerbated by the party’s leadership dynamics in Rivers State, where Siminalayi Fubara currently serves as governor. Reports indicate a division among the PDP governors, with some rallying behind Wike, while others are backing Fubara.
As tensions within the party mount, Olarewaju cautioned that the current strife might persist, urging party members to remain strategically adaptable when it comes to their political affiliations.