Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, has dumped Nyesom Wike-led G5.
The governor according to report is pushing for a cohesive and united party.
Makinde dumping G5 has seriously unsettled the camp of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike who is struggling for the control of the soul of the PDP even while serving in the government of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This was as there are indications that of serious challenges being faced by the FCT minister in his quest to have the Acting National Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Iliya Damagum continue in acting capacity as against having a new candidate to take over the affairs of the Party in a way that will represent the interest of the PDP.
A source close to Governor Makinde told reports in confidence that the Oyo State Governor is not a lame duck that can be pushed by Wike, adding that his interest in the 2023 election was to have a Southern presidential candidate emerge and not that he was really against the PDP per quod. According to the source; “There is no way a sitting Governor on the platform of the PDP will want the machinery of the Party to be in the hands of an opposition party. That would be dangerous for the elected public office holders on the platform of the PDP.
“It then means that the ruling APC will gladly use Nyesom Wike to determine who should remain in office. That way, no one would be safe.
“Moreover, why does Wike think that he would still be able to control the Party when there are sitting Governors on the platform of the PDP. Who dare try that when he was a governor? He cannot eat his cake and still want it back.
“The former governor of Rivers State must learn to appreciate the fact that there is time and season for everything. He has served his term, he must allow others to serve theirs,” the source said.
The deft move by Governor Makinde, who was believed to have faced strained relations with the Wike-led G5 recently that created a structural imbalance in the group, has aligned with the progressives voices within the PDP that are canvassing for a change in the present status quo.
While the Wike-led faction is Damagum, the Acting National Chairman to remain in his acting capacity, the PDP Governors and supporters of the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, are seriously pushing for the emergence of Senator Gabriel Suswam as the next chairman to complete the tenure of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, who was removed through a court order.
The scheduled Thursday NEC meeting is expected to be preceded by other crucial and strategic meetings such as the PDP Governors’ Forum, the PDP Caucus, and Board of Trustees (BoT).
Already, stakeholders and leaders of the Party in North Central geo-political zone have adopted former governor of Benue State, Senator Gabriel Suswam as the unanimous candidate for the position of the National Chairman of the PDP.
