Former presidential aspirant and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Dele Momodu, has attributed the ongoing crisis within the party to the influence of President Bola Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) administration and the actions of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Momodu suggested that Wike would have defected to the ruling APC if he could wield as much power there as he does in the PDP.
Speaking during an interview with Arise News on Thursday, Momodu explained that the party’s challenges began after Wike lost the PDP presidential ticket to Atiku Abubakar.
“There are individuals who lost the PDP primaries in 2022 and are still nursing grievances. Some have virtually aligned with another party, but they remain tied to the PDP, whether out of love or disdain,” Momodu said.
“The crisis traces back to when Wike, then Governor of Rivers State, lost the presidential primary to Atiku Abubakar, as well as the bid to become his running mate. While Wike may not have physically joined APC, he seems aligned with their interests in spirit.
“However, he hesitates to officially join APC because he knows he cannot command the same level of influence there as he did in PDP. Instead, he continues to empower his allies within PDP and indirectly works to weaken the party,” he added.
Momodu further claimed that the leadership crises within the Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) were part of a deliberate strategy by the APC to undermine opposition parties and edge Nigeria closer to a one-party system.
He accused the APC of being fearful of opposition and using state resources to stifle political resistance.
“Nigeria is clearly moving towards a one-party state,” Momodu remarked. “The ruling APC is so wary of opposition that it is orchestrating crises within major opposition parties like PDP, LP, and NNPP.
“This is not a coincidence. It’s a calculated move by the government to consolidate power. Figures like Wike would not have such influence without the ruling party’s support.”
Momodu expressed disappointment in what he sees as the erosion of democratic principles under the Tinubu administration.
“The tragedy is that we’re witnessing a civilian government that seems determined to crush the opposition, making it harder for democracy to flourish in Nigeria,” he concluded.