PDP Postpones NWC Meeting Amid Rising Tensions Between Wike and Governors’ Forum

The acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, has postponed the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) meeting to next week.

This decision comes amidst escalating tensions between former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, and the PDP Governors’ Forum.

The ongoing political crisis between Wike and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has caused divisions within the party. The PDP governors have insisted that Fubara should be recognized as the leader of the PDP in Rivers State.

Wike, angered by this declaration, warned the governors to stay out of Rivers’ affairs, threatening to “put fire” in their states if they intervene.

In response, the PDP Governors’ Forum condemned Wike’s threat, calling it irresponsible.

The postponed NWC meeting, initially scheduled for Wednesday, was expected to provide a platform to address the disagreements between Wike and the governors. However, due to rising tensions and to avoid confrontation, the meeting was put off.

According to *The Punch*, the postponement was also aimed at preventing possible clashes during the NWC gathering.

On Wednesday, Damagum, alongside National Organising Secretary Umar Bature, Deputy National Chairman South Taofeek Arapaja, and Deputy National Secretary Setoji Kosheodo, were seen at the PDP headquarters between 1:05 pm and 3:10 pm.

A senior NWC member present said they met to discuss matters concerning the Kaduna chapter of the party, particularly an issue in Zango Kataf, which has now been resolved.

“There is no need for an NWC meeting at this time. The meeting will be held next week. We only convened to discuss the Kaduna State chapter issues,” the source revealed.

Another senior PDP official suggested that Damagum postponed the meeting to avoid confrontation, adding that some NWC members were unaware of any discussions regarding Kaduna. According to the source, Wike’s loyalists in the NWC used the gathering to finalize their plans.

“They are only playing games with party members and its future. The meeting was postponed due to concerns over the possible outcomes. If we had met today, we would have discussed the Rivers and other states’ congresses. Pressure from Wike and the governors forced the NWC to delay the meeting to buy time,” the official stated.

The source further noted that Wike’s faction holds the majority in the NWC, which has left others waiting to see what their next move will be.