The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing a fresh crisis as some leaders of the opposition party are allegedly pushing for the immediate expulsion of any of its chieftains that accepts to serve in the yet to be unfolded cabinet of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the crisis follows allegations that Tinubu is considering appointing some PDP chieftains, including former governors Nyesom Wike and Samuel Ortom, to his cabinet.
This has angered some PDP leaders, who are accusing the former governors of betrayal. They argue that Wike and Ortom worked against the PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, during the 2023 election.
Wike and Ortom were among the five PDP governors who backed the candidacy of Atiku Abubakar in the 2023 presidential election. However, they were reportedly unhappy with the outcome of the election and refused to support Atiku during the campaign.
It is gathered that PDP leaders are opposed to the appointment of these men into Tinubu’s cabinet, arguing that it would be a betrayal of the party. They are also concerned that Wike and Ortom would use their positions in the cabinet to undermine the PDP, the Nation reports.
The split within the party was apparent when former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom and former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose reacted to allegations made by Atiku Abubakar’s spokesman, Phrank Shaibu.
Shaibu had accused Ortom and Fayose of being “seeking relevance, appointments, and protection from prosecution”.
“We want to appreciate Fayose for describing Wike as an ‘average mad man.’ Indeed, it is only a mad person who can use violence to prevent people from coming into a state to campaign. It takes madness to subvert the will of the people.”
“Ortom was one of the worst governors in the history of Nigeria. His case file at the EFCC is bulky, and he was recently invited but released because of Wike’s intervention. Okezie Ikpeazu, the former governor of Abia State, also performed abysmally in office. His successor has been complaining almost on a daily basis. But the EFCC will not prosecute him because of the G-5 connection. This is what they have turned the country into,” he said.
Ortom denied the allegations, saying that he and Fayose are “men of honour” who would not do anything to compromise their integrity.
Fayose said that he is “not afraid of Atiku or his spokesman” and that he will continue to speak his mind.
