Plans by the Peoples Democratic Party to field candidates in the forthcoming local government elections in the State on the basis of a consensus arrangement may tear the party apart.
Increasing signs of an internal revolt is coming against the backdrop of a legal suit filed by some members which is seeking to set aside the entire party structure in the State led by Ambassador Desmond Akawor.
Members of the party, according to what we have learnt, are insisting the PDP should allow internal democratic processes to flourish.
These members who are seriously aggrieved are saying the attempt to adopt candidates by consensus is part of a plan by the leadership (the Governor) to impose unpopular candidates on the people.
“Governor Nyesom Wike has for long accused the APC of imposing candidates on its membership”, a senior party member remarked, “Why is the Governor and his kitchen cabinet planning to scuttle the right of PDP members to choose who should represent them at the grassroots?
“We suspect fowl play on the part of the Governor. The Governor and his men are unwilling to subject the popularity of their preferred candidates to an open test.
We cannot claim that other political parties, including the APC, are not respecting the will of their members when we have always done the same thing.”
So far, the PDP has been unable to organize primaries to choose chairmanship candidates while the few attempts to organize primaries to select councillors have been marred by infighting.
According to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, the window open for political parties to conduct primaries expired last week.
But Thursday evening, there were still efforts in Okrika to select a popular candidate, given a deadlock that has made it impossible for anyone to emerge so far as the chairmanship candidate. From what we have learnt the pro-establishment candidate that is being projected is not the one that most stakeholders in WALGA want.
With an exparte motion obtained in an Owerri High Court which may have restrained the State Executive Committee from functioning, many here are wondering how the PDP would forward its list of candidates.
TC has learnt through an impeccable source that “the move to invite Senator Rochas Okorocha to commission a road at Emohua was informed by a strong need to use his influence as a former governor in dealing with the judiciary in Imo.”
We are yet to verify this assertion, but it is clear based on what is playing out, that members of the Wike administration are disturbed by the trend in court.
Very worrisome, from what we are hearing, is the alleged refusal of those who have dragged the party to court to reach compromises with agents of the Rivers government.
This is seen as a major test for Governor Wike who is faced with growing opposition within his own party.
The Governor, close associates disclose, now suspects that top notchers of his own party are holding secret meetings with his arch opponent, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi who is the Minister of Transportation and leader of the APC.
Insiders reveal that the winner-takes-it-all-attitude which prevails in the party is responsible for the stiff competition that is going on. So many loyal members of the party have been sidelined by office holders who are seeking re-election and their chief sponsors.
Similarly, gubernatorial candidates who are hoping to secure a head start through the forthcoming elections are worried that the plan to have a guided selection process may be part of a clandestine arrangement by the Governor to rein them in.
A close associate of Governor Wike who did not want his name on print said, “If the councilorship selection process was marred by differences, what will happen if we were to throw open the chairmanship race?”
