PDP and Nyesom Wike: THE KNOWN-HIDDEN TRUTH!
By Onjefu Okidu
If one were to pause abruptly amidst the ongoing turmoil within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and take a moment to reflect, a pressing question would likely arise: would it be fair for the PDP to sanction Nyesom Wike and restore the Rivers party structure to Governor Fubara? To answer this question accurately, one must peruse the history of the PDP. The history of the party, frankly, is a disheartening one. At its inception in 1998, under the leadership of Chief Alex Ekwueme, the party enjoyed widespread support, goodwill, and focus—qualities that positioned it as a blessing to Nigeria’s political landscape. Unfortunately, the PDP soon lost its autonomy, starting with Solomon Lar’s Jos impunity, a seed Chief Olusegun Obasanjo began to nurture upon assuming the presidency.
Since the era of Chief Solomon Lar, the party has been plagued by what can best be described as a "bigwigs-power-struggle syndrome." Decisions made by influential figures within the party, even when inconsistent with its constitution, often face little to no opposition. In 1998, under Chief Lar’s leadership, the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) passed a resolution mandating that all PDP aspirants seeking various positions in the 1999 elections must prove their eligibility by delivering their constituencies during the upcoming Local Government and Gubernatorial elections. Specifically, presidential aspirants were required to secure victories in their local governments, while gubernatorial candidates had to deliver their wards.
Ekwueme complied with the resolution, but his main opponent in the presidential race, Obasanjo, did not. Media reports at the time even noted that Obasanjo failed to deliver the polling booth in front of his house. While Ekwueme was within striking distance of winning the party primaries, Chief Solomon Lar—whether consciously or unconsciously—undermined the NEC resolution, sowing the seed of impunity and laying the foundation for the PDP's eventual decline. He unilaterally urged party members to allow Obasanjo into the presidential contest. The PDP proceeded as though nothing was amiss! From that moment onward, nearly all subsequent national chairmen, except Chief Audu Ogbeh, followed the precedent set by Solomon Lar. This mentality of impunity inevitably trickled down to the ward level, further eroding the party’s internal discipline and structure.
