The End of Wike’s Grip
The recent drama within the Peoples Democratic Party has once again exposed the fragile state of Nigeria’s foremost opposition party and the dwindling influence of Nyesom Wike. According to insiders, the build-up to the just-concluded National Executive Committee meeting nearly ended in open confrontation when governors clashed with the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, a known loyalist of Wike.
The trouble began when it emerged that Wike had allegedly directed Anyanwu not to sign a crucial letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission, formally notifying it of the party’s national convention. This letter was vital for the event to proceed as scheduled in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The refusal to sign was not a minor protest; it was part of Wike’s wider strategy to stall the convention unless his demands were met.
Wike has consistently insisted that the party must first recognize his controversial South-South zonal congress, which he engineered and handed to his ally, Dan Orbih. At the same time, he has rejected the legitimacy of the South East zonal congress led by Ali Odafe, which was duly conducted and ratified by the party. To him, unless these two conditions were met, there could be no convention. In other words, he sought to hold the entire party by its jugular.
This stance was not new. Wike has long refused to acknowledge the outcomes of several NEC meetings, openly dismissing their resolutions and, by extension, the collective authority of the party. His intransigence weakened the PDP’s credibility, eroded internal trust, and fueled suspicions that he was determined to cripple the platform from within.
But this time, the governors pushed back. They confronted Anyanwu directly, demanding he append his signature to the INEC notification or risk suspension during the NEC session later that day. Anyanwu attempted to stall by introducing fresh conditions, insisting that new congresses must be conducted in parts of the South East before he would comply. His defiance only deepened the anger of the governors.
At the height of the tension, former Senate President Bukola Saraki stepped in. He warned that suspending Anyanwu could trigger a deeper crisis that would damage the convention and shake the party’s already fragile foundation. With Saraki’s intervention, Anyanwu eventually signed the letter, even though it went against Wike’s wishes. That moment marked a quiet but decisive turning point.
The episode has laid bare Wike’s isolation. For all his bluster and maneuvering, his grip on the party now rests solely on Anyanwu’s fragile loyalty. His threats and ultimatums no longer carry the same weight. Once the convention holds as planned, the National Secretary’s ability to obstruct will end, and with it, Wike’s leverage within the PDP will collapse.
The truth is that Wike overplayed his hand. His refusal to bend, his constant rejection of NEC resolutions, and his attempt to force the party to dissolve legitimate structures all backfired. Instead of being the power broker, he has become the symbol of division. Instead of shaping the PDP’s future, he has been reduced to a disruptive voice whose relevance fades with each passing day.
As the PDP marches toward its convention in Ibadan, it does so with a clearer sense of unity and a determination to shake off the distractions of the past. The decision of Anyanwu to finally sign the letter not only signaled a victory for the governors but also underscored the limits of Wike’s influence.
For a man who once boasted of being the soul of the PDP, this is the final curtain call. The party has moved on, and the end of Senator Anyanwu’s resistance is also the end of Wike’s dominance and interference.
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