PDP to produce challenger against Soludo amid internal crisis April 8
The Conference of Professionals in the Peoples Democratic Party (CP-PDP) has called on the national leadership of the party to invoke relevant provisions of the PDP Constitution and strip the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of his membership.
Despite ongoing internal challenges, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is gearing up to present a formidable candidate against Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, in its rescheduled governorship primary tomorrow.
Speaking after CP-PDP’s weekly technical review meeting in Abuja, yesterday, Protem National Coordinator, Obinna Nwachukwu, said Wike’s open declaration of support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) “undermines the PDP and violates t he party’s constitution.”
He stated: “The FCT minister has publicly aligned with the APC to pursue their victory in the 2026 FCT Council election and the 2027 Presidential election, in direct breach of Section 10(6) of the PDP Constitution 2017 (as amended), which prohibits members from aligning with other parties to undermine the PDP.”
Nwachukwu stressed that Wike, by his actions, has effectively relinquished his membership of the PDP and should no longer be recognised as a party member. He also accused Wike of persistently violating Section 58 of the PDP Constitution through his public attacks on the party and its leadership.
The CP-PDP urged the National Working Committee (NWC) to immediately invoke Sections 29(2)(b) and 59(1) to expel Wike from the party, warning that continued tolerance of his actions “is harmful” to the PDP’s unity and integrity.
Nwachukwu added: “The delay in expelling Wike is now vexatious to loyal party members. The NWC must act decisively.”
The group also directed all professionals within the PDP to sever political ties with Wike, reaffirming its commitment to the unity and stability of the party.
GOVERNOR Soludo, seeking a second term, will fly the flag of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), while the Labour Party (LP) has chosen former NIWA Managing Director, Dr George Moghalu, as its candidate following its primary held on Saturday.
In the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nicholas Ukachukwu emerged as the winner of the party’s primary, securing 1,455 votes to defeat his closest rival, Valentine Ozigbo, who polled 67 votes.
For the PDP, internal strife between Sunday Udeh-Okoye and Sen Samuel Anyanwu over the position of National Secretary led to a delay in the primary, which was initially scheduled for April 5 but shifted to April 8.
The uncertainty discouraged many aspirants from obtaining nomination forms, fearing complications with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) possibly not recognising Udeh-Okoye’s signature.
Although the Supreme Court recently nullified the lower court decisions that sacked Anyanwu, this came after the deadline for submission of nomination forms to INEC, further narrowing the party’s options.
PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, confirmed that only three aspirants submitted nomination forms two weeks ago. However, when contacted yesterday, the PDP’s national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, declined to disclose their identities or comment on the party’s prospects in what is shaping up to be a three-horse race among APGA, APC and LP.
