Politics

Wike’s inordinate ambition cause of PDP crisis – Aniagwu

Published

3 years ago

January 2, 2023

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike

Spokesman for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, has said Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike is working against the party’s quest to zone its presidential ticket to the Southeast.

Aniagwu accused Wike of influencing the party’s zoning committee, headed by Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, of opening up the contest with the hope that he would win.

Speaking on Arise Television programme: “Prime Time”, Aniagwu, who is also the Delta State Commissioner for Information, said the ongoing crisis in the party was caused by Wike’s inordinate ambition to become the President.

According to him, Wike’s anger at the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is misplaced because Ortom was the chairman of PDP’s zoning committee before the primary election was conducted.

The campaign spokesman said it was not Atiku that made it open for people to freely contest for the party’s ticket, but Ortom.

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“In our quest for peace, we have allowed the danger of the single story to persist. When the party set up a Zoning Committee, it was headed by Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State and a member of the G-5 governors.

“The committee threw the ticket open for the best to emerge and Atiku Abubakar was considered the most qualified to lead Nigeria’s rescue and rebuilding mission.

“Let me now give you a hint. When the issue of zoning was discussed, you know that Ortom was the chairman of the zoning committee.

“Atiku Abubakar was interested in micro zoning to the Southeast, but it was the same Nyesom Wike that frustrated it because he wanted to contest.

“It was not Atiku that made the zoning open to people to just go and contest. In this case, there was a contest between the South and the North, and Atiku was considered by members of the party as the man capable of leading Nigerians out of the woods.

“I think often times we undermine the value of our prayers as Nigerians. From the actions of Wike, you will know that the prayers of Nigerians are working.

“Because if in just Rivers State, you are subjecting everybody to the kind of torture we are seeing, which we never saw under military rule, imagine if he was in charge of the military.”

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On calls for disciplinary measures against the five “rebel” governors in G-5, Aniagwu said the party was taking its time to ensure that all avenues for peace and compromise were explored.

“I know many people are wondering why the party is keeping quiet and neglecting the actions of Governor Wike and others. This is because the party wants to exhaust all avenues of ensuring that these individuals realise that the party has been able to bring them up to speed.

“Without the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), these individuals that are creating this crisis, where will they be? So, when individuals begin to progress along this line and think that the rest of us don’t matter, you begin to wonder what their calculation is, in any case,” he said.

The PDP campaign chief said the party would continue to appeal to the G-5 governors to return home and join hands in its rescue mission project.

“We do hope that the G-5 governors return home. But while we await their return, we will continue to engage Nigerians because that is where the power resides.

“Our presidential candidate is very busy interfacing with Nigerians and we will continue to plead with Wike and accord him the respect he deserves as a governor and a great leader in our party.

“The very disturbing economic and security situation in the country is enough for any leader to sheathe his sword and help in taking decisions that can help the country to navigate through the very murky waters.

“That a man suffered defeat in a party’s primary that was very creditably organised is one thing to which we don’t understand the extent to which he is taking this fight,” Aniagwu said.

The Nation

Related Topics:Aniagwu Featured PDP Wike

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Align With Wike or Lose Gokana, APC Chieftain Warns Gov Fubara

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December 30, 2025

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Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara

Align With Wike or Lose Gokana, APC Chieftain Warns Gov Fubara

The National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), South-South, Hon. Victor Giadom, has advised Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to align politically with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, if he hopes to record any meaningful political success in Rivers State.

Giadom gave the advice on Tuesday during Wike’s “thank you” visit to Gokana Local Government Area, where political leaders and supporters gathered to reaffirm their loyalty to the former Rivers State governor.

Describing Nyesom Wike as a dependable leader and the dominant political force in Rivers State, Giadom assured the minister of the unflinching support of the Gokana people, stressing that no rival political structure exists in the area.

“I guarantee, on behalf of my brothers, that the Gokana people are for Wike and Tinubu, and nobody will challenge Wike’s influence in Gokana,” Giadom said.

He added, “Gokana is a no-go area for anybody, even Governor Fubara. For him to win anything in Gokana, he must pass through Wike.”

Similarly, former Senator representing Rivers South-East, Sen. Magnus Abe, said the people of Gokana had already made their political choice, firmly aligning with Wike and President Bola Tinubu.

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“Wike is a leader that unites, and that is why we are united. If you follow Wike, you will not go home empty-handed,” Abe stated.
“The Ogoni people are with you. Please tell President Tinubu not to bother coming to Gokana to campaign — we are already for him.”

Also speaking, the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Dumle Maol, pledged continued loyalty to the FCT minister.

“Anywhere you go, we will go,” Maol said.

Earlier, the Chairman of Gokana Local Government Council, Mr. Confidence Deko, pledged total support for Wike, attributing the people’s loyalty to his developmental contributions to the area.

“This local government is for you because of what you have done for us,” Deko said.
“Please tell President Tinubu that the people of Gokana appreciate him. The time for payback is near, and we will do the needful.”

In his response, Wike said the visit was to appreciate the people of Gokana for their sustained support and goodwill over the years.

He commended their unity, particularly in backing President Tinubu, noting that unity remained the foundation for progress.

“When you are united, good things will come,” Wike said, urging residents to remain patient and continue to listen to their leaders for guidance at the appropriate time.

The FCT minister further assured the people of his continued partnership with them, revealing that members of both the APC and PDP in Rivers State were united in support of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“That is why you see PDP and APC members here,” Wike said, describing the alliance as a broad-based political collaboration aimed at advancing development in Rivers State and across the country.

Align With Wike or Lose Gokana, APC Chieftain Warns Gov Fubara

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Ekiti 2026: PDP Accuses INEC of Bias Over Exclusion of Governorship Candidate

Published

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December 30, 2025

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Ekiti 2026: PDP Accuses INEC of Bias Over Exclusion of Governorship Candidate

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of bias following the exclusion of its governorship candidate from the list of contestants for the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election.

In a statement issued on Monday by its spokesman, Ini Ememobong, the PDP described the omission as further evidence of what it termed INEC’s “biased disposition” against the party.

According to the PDP, INEC was duly notified of its governorship primaries, monitored the exercise, and subsequently issued reports confirming that the process complied with electoral laws and democratic standards.

The party said INEC later released nomination portal codes for the submission of candidates’ details but allegedly blocked the PDP’s access to the portal days before the submission deadline.

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As a result, the party said it resorted to manual submission of its nomination documents at INEC’s office, adding that the commission acknowledged receipt of the documents.

The PDP maintained that INEC ought to have exercised caution by including the name of Oluwole Oluyede, whom it described as its duly nominated governorship candidate, noting that there was no contrary submission challenging his nomination.

“There was no court order restraining INEC from recognising our candidate, and the commission’s own monitoring report attests to the validity of the primaries,” the statement said.

The party further disclosed that it has commenced legal action to compel INEC to include its candidate on the final list for the election.

“While we undertake this long and tortuous legal route, we once again remind INEC of the expectations of Nigerians that the commission must remain independent, impartial, and neutral in the management of the electoral process,” the PDP stated.

The party warned that actions perceived as undermining electoral integrity could damage democracy and public confidence in the commission.

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Kano APC Woos Governor Abba Yusuf Amid NNPP Crisis

Published

9 hours ago

December 30, 2025

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Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf

Kano APC Woos Governor Abba Yusuf Amid NNPP Crisis

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State has formally invited Governor Abba Yusuf to defect to the ruling party, urging him to join in the interest of unity and development in the state.

The invitation was disclosed on Tuesday by the Kano APC chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, who spoke on behalf of the immediate past APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Abbas said the call for Governor Yusuf to join the APC was driven by the need for reconciliation, unity, and collective progress in Kano State.

“The APC is ready to receive Governor Abba Yusuf with open arms so that, together, we can combine our strengths for the progress of Kano State,” Abbas said.

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The planned defection of the governor has reportedly deepened divisions within the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), on whose platform Yusuf was elected in the 2023 governorship election.

Sources within the party say the move is strongly opposed by the NNPP national leader and political benefactor of the governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who is said to be against Yusuf joining the APC.

Abbas assured that upon his formal defection, Governor Yusuf and other NNPP stalwarts would be received into the APC under the leadership of Dr Ganduje, in what he described as an atmosphere of mutual respect and collective responsibility.

He added that the APC remains committed to building a more united, stable, and prosperous Kano State, regardless of political affiliations.