Former spokesperson of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Kenneth Okonkwo, has claimed that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has effectively zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Speaking on Channels TV’s breakfast show on Friday, Okonkwo alleged that Wike has consistently imposed his will on the PDP, warning that the former Rivers State governor openly works against the party.
“You were there when Wike said he will be supporting the presidential candidate of another political party. So where is it? And he have told you that anything and anybody that goes against whatever he says, he will ignite fire in his state, if he is a state governor. And he has told you that whatever he says is law,” Okonkwo said.
He recalled that Wike disregarded the South East’s preference for Udo Okoye as PDP’s National Secretary, insisting instead on Samuel Anyanwu, who eventually emerged.
“In fairness to him, it has been like that. The South East, entire South East, say they preferred a secretary, Udo Okoye, for the political party, and if it’s not given to them, they are going to leave PDP. Wike say, no, it has to be Samuel Anyanwu. And today it’s Samuel Anyanwu,” he added.
Okonkwo argued that the Supreme Court ruling, which affirmed Anyanwu’s position was simply a recognition of parties’ rights to choose their leaders, not an endorsement of Wike’s position.
“He maintained that position even before the Supreme Court gave judgment. And what the Supreme Court simply said in the judgment is that the political parties have the right to choose whoever they so choose, and the court has no jurisdiction to interfere in what any political party has decided,” he explained.
He further described Wike’s conduct as anti-party.
“What about the other things he’s saying? Is it not crude anti party to say you’re supporting the presidential candidate of another political party in the coming election? No reason.
“In 2023 he will pretend and purport that he had a reason. In 2027 what’s the reason? And he has made it open, so there’s no party like PDP. PDP, by Wike their leader, has already chosen their presidential candidate, and they have zoned the Presidential ticket to him, and that’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Okonkwo said.
