PDP crisis ‘temporarily over’ after exit of troublemakers – Wike

PDP crisis ‘temporarily over’ after exit of troublemakers – Wike

By Jeffrey Agbo

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has declared that the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is “temporarily over” following the departure of individuals he described as “buccaneers and vampires.”

Wike made the remarks during a live media chat in Abuja on Monday, but stressed that lingering issues must still be addressed to avoid a fresh wave of internal conflict.

“I said I was going to remain in the PDP and that was why I said the right thing must be done. I will not leave this party which I have done everything for, for the buccaneers and vampires. If I had not, If I had left the party, the buccaneers and vampires would have remained in PDP to come and collect ticket,” Wike said.

The minister insisted that the outcome of the South South Zonal Congress, which saw Dan Orbih emerge as the PDP’s National Vice Chairman for the zone, must be upheld.

“Well, it is over for now because there are still some things remaining which I have told them they must do. One is our South South Zonal Congress that we had must be upheld. There are no two ways about it. When we were doing our South South Zonal Congress, the acting National Chairman claimed that the PDP governors were not in support of that zonal Congress? Where are the PDP governors today?

“Our Congress was held in Calabar and there is nothing anybody can tell us. If they want another round of crisis, so be it. That Congress must be. Chief Dan Orbih emerged as National Vice Chairman. The courts allowed for the Congress to hold. Congress was held and the so-called acting National Chairman of the party went and wrote to INEC data after the Congress had held, saying Congress had been postponed. Something was held on the 5th and then on the 8th, you said it has been postponed. So, there are no two ways about it. The National Vice Chairman of the PDP South South is Chief Dan Orbih. If they don’t agree, that is another round do crisis,” he warned.

Wike also took aim at the PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of consistently switching parties in search of a presidential ticket.

According to him, “Anytime the former vice president is unable to secure a presidential ticket, he jumps to another party,” claiming Atiku is now attempting to get the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ticket for 2027.

The minister further dismissed the legitimacy of the South East Congress that produced Ali Odefa, stating that the courts had ruled he was no longer a PDP member.

He concluded by warning that his camp would resist any form of impunity within the party and urged the PDP leadership to address unresolved issues before the November national convention to avoid renewed crisis.