PDP CRISIS: In a new twist to the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has approached the court for a declaration that he is the rightful candidate of the PDP for the 2023 presidential election and not Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Basic Facts

• Alhaji Atiku Abubakar defeated other candidates to emerge victorious at the PDP presidential primary held during the party convention in Abuja.
• The former president was close to losing to Governor Wike until the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal was pressured to step down for Atiku.
• Governor WIke has been at loggerhead with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar following his choice of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate.

What We Know

The governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has sued Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate over how he (Atiku) emerged as the party`s flagbearer instead of him.

Also sued alongside Atiku is his (Wike`s) former ally and friend, the Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, and also the PDP as a party.

The suit is over the presidential primary of the PDP held during the party`s convention, which was took place between the 28^th and 29^th May 2022 in Abuja.

The Plaintiffs in the case include Governor Wike and Newgent Ekamon who is also a chieftain of the PDP chieftain. The suit which is brought at the Federal High Court is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/782/2022.

In the matter which was brought by originating summon, Wike and Ekamon wants the Federal High Court to remove Atiku as the PDP presidential candidate because he did not emerge through a legitimate process.

In Atiku`s place, Wike wants the court to declare him as the rightful PDP flagbearer because he had the most legitimate vote lawfully cast at he presidential primary.

The Plaintiffs are anchoring their argument on the fact the PDP leadership under Iyorchia Ayu, the PDP National Chairman, unlawfully permitted Governor Tambuwal to withdraw from the race and assign his votes to Atiku.

The Plaintiffs also argue that the PDP National Chairman was clearly partisan in the process, and did not play the role of an impartial arbiter. In support of this submission, the Plaintiffs refer to Ayu`s statement after the convention that Tambuwal was the “hero of the convention”.

Governor Wike therefore contends that it was this unfair and unlawful process that gave Atiku the advantage to trump him in the election, otherwise he was already in the lead with the most lawful votes.

In the originating summons, the Peoples Democratic Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission are both listed as the first Respondent the second Respondents respectively.

Notable Quotes

In the originating summon, the Plaintiffs want the Federal High Court to determine if Tambuwal “deserved to forfeit his votes having stood down during the primaries.”

They are also asking the court to “cancel the transfer of votes and a corresponding order restraining the 3rd respondent (Tambuwal’s) withdrawal in the primary was done after voting had commenced.”

In addition, they want the court to order INEC to strike Atiku’s name off “its list of candidates in the 2023 presidential election”

Consequently, the Plaintiffs want the court to issue an order “directing the first respondent (PDP) to declare the second applicant (Wike), a presidential aspirant in the May 28 and May 29 primary, as the winner of the aforesaid primary, with a corresponding order directing the first respondent (PDP) to forward his name as the candidate to contest the presidential election in 2023.”

Catch-up

The Crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party became blown after the PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar was accused of ignoring Governor Wike, who was the popular choice of the PDP chieftains for his running mate.

Governor Wike`s camp became very angry with the former Vice President not only because of the rejection of Wike, but according to them, mostly because of how Atiku went about making his choice of Governor Okowa over Governor Wike.

According to details Clariform have gathered, efforts have been made to resolve the warring parties and bring WIke and his camp fully back into the PDP fold. However, comments and reactions from Wike and a few people who have spoken from his camp suggests that not enough effort have been made.

At the PDP convention, to emerge the winner Atiku polled 371 votes, while Governor Wike’s garnered 237 votes to come second. Former Senate President,  Bukola Saraki’s came a distant third with 70 votes.

Takeaway

This development is no doubt a game changer in the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party. It could not have come at a worse time, as the 2023 presidential election fast approaches.

Clariform reports that the court processes have already were served on the PDP at its Wadata Plaza headquarters in Wuse Zone 5.

Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, the PDP presidential candidate has also been served with a copy of the court processes, which were delivered to him at his Maitama campaign office.

Governor Tambuwal was also served through the Sokoto State Government’s liaison office in Abuja by the Federal High Court bailiff.

The uptick in the crisis is no doubt a welcome development in the All Progressive Congress (APC), which has also suffered internal hemorrhage following its choice of a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Some prominent members of the APC have dumped the party owing to this singular decision. However, what is left of the APC is gradually putting their acts together, readying for the commencement of campaign season.

On the contrary, since the end of the PDP convention, the outcome of the party`s presidential primary, have done more harm than good to the party. Governor Wike has been at odds with Atiku and Tambuwal, and there are many sympathizers to his course.