Politics.

South-South Congress Intensifies PDP Crisis Amid NWC and Wike Camp Conflict.

The crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepens as former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike’s camp rejects the South-South Zonal Caretaker Committee announced by the National Working Committee (NWC). PDP National Vice Chairman for the South-South, Dan Orbih, and another anonymous leader from Wike’s camp, criticized the Umar Damagum-led NWC for issuing the statement without approval. This development coincides with the party’s postponement of its National Executive Committee meeting.

The NEC meeting, initially scheduled for March 13 after multiple postponements since April 2024, has been rescheduled for May 15. On February 21, 2025, the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt issued a restraining order preventing the PDP and South-South National Vice Chairman Dan Orbih from holding the zonal congress on February 22, 2025. The claimants in suit number PHC/551/CS/2025 were PDP members from Rivers State, Tonu Ejiogu and Field Nkor.

Despite the court’s ruling, the PDP proceeded with the congress on February 22. Vita Abba, the chairman of the electoral committee, announced that Dan Orbih won the election with 174 votes. Other elected officials included Alabah Turnah (Secretary), Evelyn Weke (Treasurer), Ijeoma Obani (Financial Secretary), Timothy Okwoche (Organising Secretary), Iyrneri Briggs (Legal Adviser), Prince Etim Isong (Publicity Secretary), Loveday Abaribote (Auditor), Phenomena Esubok (Woman Leader), and Patrick Asuquo (Youth Leader).

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Wike, who supported and attended the congress in Calabar, Cross River State, described the South-South as the PDP’s strongest base and asserted that no further congress would be held in the region. Wike maintained that the zonal congress was legally conducted and that Orbih remained the National Vice Chairman.

Regarding the four South-South governors who abstained from the congress, the PDP distanced itself from the Calabar event and stated it would announce a new date for the zonal congresses in due time. Ignoring Wike’s position, the Damagum-led NWC appointed Emma Ogidi as the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee on March 7 and, on March 9, the party fixed April 12 as the new date for the South-South zonal congress. Orbih denied any knowledge of the caretaker committee, alleging that it was created by Ologunagba to deceive the South-South leaders.

Dan Orbih, the PDP National Vice Chairman for the South-South, dismissed the caretaker committee announcement by Debo Ologunagba, stating that no NWC meeting had approved such a decision. He accused Ologunagba of embarrassing the party and urged South-South leaders to ignore the statement. Orbih emphasized that party members should follow the constitution and not be swayed by Ologunagba’s press release. Another source suggested that some NWC members were trying to undermine the PDP and blame Wike for the crisis.

Similar to Orbih’s statement, another source confirmed that no NWC meeting had been held to approve the South-South caretaker committee. The source claimed that the NWC did not meet on any matter of that nature and accused certain members of trying to destroy the PDP for their selfish gains, with plans to later blame Wike.

In response, Ologunagba told The PUNCH that the party had informed the relevant individuals about its decision regarding the South-South. He stated that the party had made a decision and communicated it to those concerned, and there was nothing more to say beyond the statement.

When asked to elaborate on Orbih’s allegations, Ologunagba refused to comment. Meanwhile, another source from the anti-Wike camp, loyal to the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, revealed that the South-South zonal caretaker committee and the April 12 date were announced following the approval of the four governors from the zone.

The anonymous source revealed that the decision was not made by Ologunagba but reflected the majority of NWC members’ position. They stated that the national leadership did not conduct the Calabar congress. Instead, Orbih acted alone, selecting his loyalists for the congress committee, supervising the process, and declaring himself and others as winners. This, according to the source, is unacceptable and violates the PDP’s constitution.