Kenneth Okonkwo, a former spokesperson of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, has claimed that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has ceded its 2027 presidential ticket to Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Speaking on Channels TV’s The Morning Brief on Friday, September 5, Okonkwo alleged that Wike had long dictated the direction of the PDP, often overriding other voices within the party while openly backing candidates from outside its fold.
“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 stated.
He recalled the battle over the party’s national secretary, noting that while the South East endorsed Udo Okoye, Wike insisted on Samuel Anyanwu, who eventually secured the position.
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“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,” Okonkwo added.
He argued that the Supreme Court’s ruling in favour of Anyanwu did not validate Wike’s dominance but simply confirmed that political parties have the right to select their leaders without judicial interference.
Describing Wike’s behaviour as outright anti-party activity, Okonkwo said, “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.”