BREAKING: PDP Crisis Not Over Yet — Wike Declares, Demands Recognition of Calabar Congress

PDP Crisis Not Over Yet — Wike Declares, Demands Recognition of Calabar Congress

 

 

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that the internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is far from over, insisting that the party must recognise the outcome of the South-South zonal congress held earlier this year in Calabar.

 

Speaking during a media interaction in Abuja on Monday, Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, said the only path to true reconciliation within the party is for the National Working Committee (NWC) to uphold the result of the congress that returned his ally, Chief Dan Orbih, as the South-South Zonal Chairman of the PDP.

 

“Congress Must Be Upheld”

 

Wike stated unequivocally that any attempt to override the Calabar congress would be unacceptable and could trigger another round of political turmoil within the party.

 

“Well, it is over for now, because there are still some things remaining, which I’ve told them they must do,” Wike said when asked if the PDP’s internal wrangling had been resolved.

 

“One is, our South-South zonal congress that was held must be upheld. There’s no two ways about it.”

 

The Calabar congress, held on February 22, saw Dan Orbih re-elected as zonal chairman. However, in March, PDP acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, disowned the congress, saying it was not recognised by the party’s NWC — a move Wike condemned.

 

“Court Approved It, It Held — End of Story”

 

Wike accused Damagum of undermining due process, alleging that he attempted to retroactively discredit the congress by writing a letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after the exercise had taken place.

 

“The court allowed the congress to hold. Congress was held,” he stressed. “The so-called acting national chairman of the party went and wrote a letter to INEC. Congress was held on Saturday — say, for example, on the 5th — and he wrote a letter on the 8th that the congress has been postponed.”

 

“Something was held on the 5th, and on the 8th it was postponed? So, there are no two ways about it. The national vice chairman of PDP South-South is Chief Dan Orbih,” he declared.

 

“I’m Not Leaving the PDP”

 

Despite persistent speculation about his loyalty, especially following his alignment with the ruling APC in recent times, Wike dismissed talks of leaving the PDP, saying he remains committed to the party he helped build.

 

“I will not leave this party, the PDP, which I have done everything for, for the buccaneers and vampires,” he said.

 

“If I had left the party, the buccaneers and vampires would have remained in PDP to come and collect tickets,” he added.

 

Warning of Renewed Crisis

 

The FCT Minister warned that failure to honour the decisions made at the Calabar congress could drag the PDP into further internal strife.

 

“The party must respect its internal processes. If they want another round of crisis, so be it,” Wike warned.

 

The PDP has yet to issue a fresh statement in response to Wike’s comments, but political observers believe the unresolved leadership disputes in key zones like the South-South continue to cast a shadow over the party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.