The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Tanimu Turaki has commended the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, for calling out and condemning the anti-party activities and political blackmail of the FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike.
The reaction comes shortly after the Wike-backed PDP slammed the governor for dragging the FCT minister into what it called his political misfortunes.
The governor recently cautioned the minister to refrain from stoking political crisis in Ebonyi State through political misinformation, use of the president’s name, and anti-party gimmicks, reiterating the painful fact of Wike’s meddlesomeness in political affairs outside his official and geographic jurisdictions.
However, in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the Interim National Working Committee, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the faction said it is certain that Governor Nwifuru is conscious of the role Wike, then as governor of Rivers State, played in pushing his predecessor out of the PDP.
Ememobong added that the governor’s outburst finds historical corroboration in a similar challenge undertaken by his predecessor, His Excellency, Engr. David Umahi, against Wike.
“We reiterate that the Peoples Democratic Party, as an opposition party, is not and cannot be in an alliance with the ruling party.
“We are a principled political party and will continue to insist on best practices in political contests in a bid to help achieve democratic consolidation in our country.
“For the record, the candidate of the authentic and uncompromised PDP is Mr. Eze Alexander, who, for all intents and purposes, is in the race as an opposition candidate, not a ruling party-aligned candidate.
“We urge the public to join the Governor of Ebonyi State and any other governors who are bold enough to condemn a wicked attempt by Wike to ‘put fire’ in their states,” Ememobong said.
