By Muhammad Mamman
Former spokesperson of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Kenneth Okonkwo, has alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has effectively surrendered its 2027 presidential ticket to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
In a Friday interview, Okonkwo accused the former Rivers State governor of hijacking the PDP and bending the party to his will. He recalled how Wike openly declared support for a rival party’s presidential candidate in the past, questioning the PDP’s silence over such actions.
“You heard him say that anything or anyone that goes against his position will face fire. To him, whatever he says is law,” Okonkwo claimed.
The Labour Party stalwart further cited Wike’s role in sidelining the South East’s preference for Udo Okoye as PDP National Secretary, insisting instead on Samuel Anyanwu—who eventually clinched the post.
“The entire South East demanded Udo Okoye. Wike said no, it must be Samuel Anyanwu. And today, it is Samuel Anyanwu,” he noted. He clarified that the Supreme Court’s verdict upholding Anyanwu’s position was not an endorsement of Wike’s dominance, but simply a reaffirmation that parties have the freedom to choose their leaders.
Okonkwo described Wike’s influence as “blatant anti-party,” insisting the PDP has already lost its way under his control.
“What about his other declarations? Is it not crude anti-party to openly back another party’s presidential candidate? In 2023, he gave an excuse. What will be his excuse in 2027? The truth is, under Wike, the PDP has no future. By his actions, they’ve effectively zoned their ticket to Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Okonkwo asserted.
