Kenneth Okonkwo, former spokesperson of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council, 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, the former Rivers State governor, wields significant influence within the PDP, consistently imposing his will and working against the party’s broader interests.
“You were there when Wike said he will be supporting the presidential candidate of another political party. So where is it? And he has 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.
Okonkwo recalled how Wike ignored the South East’s preference for Udo Okoye as the PDP’s National Secretary, insisting instead on Samuel Anyanwu, who ultimately assumed the position.
“In fairness to him, it has been like that. The entire South East said 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 said no, it has to be Samuel Anyanwu. And today, it’s Samuel Anyanwu,” he added.
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He further explained that a Supreme Court ruling affirming Anyanwu’s position was merely a recognition of political parties’ rights to select their leaders and did not endorse Wike’s influence.
“He maintained that position even before the Supreme Court gave judgment. And what the Supreme Court simply said in the judgment is that 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,” Okonkwo explained.
Describing Wike’s behaviour as “anti-party,” Okonkwo condemned his public declarations supporting the presidential candidate of another political party ahead of the 2027 elections.
“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,” Okonkwo asserted.
He concluded by alleging that the PDP, under Wike’s leadership, has already decided on their preferred candidate and has effectively zoned the presidential ticket to him and, by extension, to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling party.
“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.
