Wike Clashes With Makinde, Others Ibadan Hosting National Convention
By Simeon OSAJIE
The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) seems to have escalated as the controversy over the venue of the National Convention has deepened internal divisions within the opposition party, with stakeholders expressing differing positions ahead of the exercise.
It could be recalled that the PDP has announced that it will hold its National Elective Convention in Ibadan in November.
However, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nyesom Wike, has insisted that no valid decision has been taken by the National Executive Committee (NEC) to hold the exercise in Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital.
Wike made this known during an interview on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme anchored by Seun Okinbaloye.
When asked if he was opposed to the reported Ibadan convention, the former Rivers State governor said he was not aware of any such decision, adding that as a NEC member, he had not been informed or invited to any meeting where such a resolution was taken.
“NEC has not met. If they say, oh, we are meeting tomorrow and all that, fine, but NEC has not met,” Wike stated.
He also queried the credibility of those claiming that the NEC had already approved Ibadan as the venue of the PDP National Convention, stressing that any such pronouncement without NEC’s approval was invalid.
He said: ”I am not aware of any Convention holding in Ibadan. As a NEC member I have not been told and nobody has invited me for NEC meeting, for me to say that NEC has held a meeting. If few people who work as a team say they have held a NEC meeting, okay so be it.”
Political analysts said with the FCT minister’s comments, given his significant influence in PDP, indicate the party is experiencing considerable leadership turmoil which could impact PDP’s capacity to offer effective opposition and this cast doubt on the legitimacy of the planned November National Elective Convention in Ibadan, with stakeholders holding divergent views amidst escalating controversy within the party.
