Elder statesman and leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), has issued a warning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), urging the party’s leadership to expel Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In an open letter to Umar Damagum, the acting chairman of the PDP, Clark expressed deep concern that Wike’s continued presence in the party could lead to its downfall.
Clark accused Wike of using his political influence, particularly his close relationship with President Bola Tinubu, to undermine both the PDP and the governance of Rivers State.
“Wike must leave PDP for the party to survive,” Clark stated emphatically in his letter. He warned that Wike’s actions were not only destabilizing the party but also threatening the stability and governance of Rivers State, a critical state in Nigeria’s political landscape.
The conflict between Wike and Siminalayi Fubara, the current governor of Rivers State, has been ongoing for months, creating a significant rift within the state’s political environment.
This feud has also spilled over into the Rivers State House of Assembly, leading to a crisis that saw 27 members of the assembly defect from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December 2023.
Clark’s letter to the PDP leadership outlined a series of actions by Wike that he described as “unconstitutional” and detrimental to the party’s integrity. The PANDEF leader accused Wike of attempting to exert control over Rivers State through his “structure,” which he argued is against the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
“Barr. Nyesom Wike’s arbitrariness knows no bounds,” Clark wrote, emphasizing that Wike’s desire to control Rivers State was in direct violation of Section 1(2) of the 1999 Constitution. Clark argued that Wike’s actions were not just a personal vendetta but part of a larger plan to undermine the PDP and destabilize Rivers State.
Clark also criticized the PDP’s acting chairman, Umar Damagum, for allegedly supporting Wike’s actions. Clark claimed that Damagum had attempted to provide legal validation to members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who were loyal to Wike, despite their public defection to the APC.
“As acting national chairman of your party, you took your party’s NWC to court on the defection of the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly,” Clark noted. He described Damagum’s actions as “antithetical” to the party’s principles and the provisions of Section 109 of the Nigerian Constitution.
The power struggle between Wike and Governor Fubara has been a central issue in Rivers State politics since Fubara assumed office. The conflict, which began as a disagreement over the management of state affairs, has escalated into a full-blown crisis that has affected the governance of the state and the functioning of its legislative assembly.
In October 2023, the crisis reached a peak when Ehie Edison, who had been removed as house leader by members loyal to Martin Amaewhule, was elected speaker of a factional assembly.
This move was seen as part of a broader plot to impeach Governor Fubara, a development that further deepened the division within the PDP in Rivers State. Edison later resigned as a lawmaker to become the chief of staff to Governor Fubara, signaling a temporary resolution to the conflict but leaving underlying tensions unresolved.
Clark, in his public statements, has not shied away from criticizing Wike’s approach to this conflict. He accused Wike of using the APC to wage a political war against the PDP, a strategy that he said is detrimental to both the party and the state.
“Wike is now dancing naked with the APC,” Clark remarked, suggesting that Wike’s alliance with the ruling party is a clear indication of his disregard for the PDP’s interests.
Clark made it clear that the only way for the PDP to survive this crisis is to expel Wike from the party. He warned that if the party leadership fails to act, Wike’s influence could lead to the destruction of the PDP, not just in Rivers State but across Nigeria.
“Mr. Acting National Chairman, as a matter of fact, it is not just the national legal adviser of the PDP that is shocked about your actions – all well-meaning, reasonable, patriotic, faithful, and honest party members, including many Nigerians, are equally shocked,” Clark wrote.
He urged the PDP leadership to take immediate action to prevent further damage to the party’s reputation and to restore confidence among its members.
