By John Aleachenu

ABUJA—There are growing concerns about the future of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, following recent defections and renewed tensions over invitations sent out by the Chief Tom Ikimi-led disciplinary committee.

This year alone, the Senator representing Delta North, Ned Nwoko, and the member representing the Ethiope federal constituency of Delta State, Mrs. Ibori-Suenu, announced their defections from the party to join the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Ibori-Suenu is the daughter of former Delta State governor, James Ibori.

The South-South and the South East were key PDP strongholds before the party lost power in 2015.

Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (APC Ondo) in an interview on Channels Television revealed plans by “at least one PDP governor” to dump the party to join the ruling APC.

Ibrahim said: “I don’t want to mention names, so I don’t embarrass people, but I can assure you that the next time I return to this programme, you will see a governor who has crossed over to the APC.”

The Ikimi-led panel last week sent out invitations to the embattled National Secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and immediate past Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, to appear before it on Wednesday to answer to charges of alleged anti-party activities.
The panel’s invitations have prompted some party stakeholders to query its “timing” as well as “selective” nature.

One of such stakeholders who pleaded anonymity, for fear of retribution, wondered why “nobody has invited (Nyesom) Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

The source, who is a member of the PDP National Executive Committee, NEC, said: “Everybody knew what transpired in Rivers during the 2023 presidential election, as Governor Wike openly worked against our candidate, Atiku Abubakar. Why is Ikimi and co silent?”

However another NEC member who equally pleaded anonymity, dismissed this charge, saying “why should anyone invite Wike?

“He remains the only governor of the PDP who delivered the entire seats in the local governments, state and National Assemblies to the PDP.

“Show me any of those noisemakers, even among members of the PDP Governors’ Forum, who achieved this feat in 2023.“

The party’s embattled National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, told Vanguard that those fuelling the embers of disunity in the PDP were trying to “destroy the party to give way for them to defect to other parties. It’s already happening in the National Assembly.”

The Deputy National Youth leader, Timothy Osadolor, expressed the opinion that there was enough blame to go around but that it was time for the party to make progress.

He said: “This is no longer the time for a blame game, all have sinned. From the BOT chairman who endorsed an opposition governor, to candidates who negotiated and supported other parts candidates in promises to get their return support, to NWC members and leaders who lost their polling units.

“We must all come down from our high horses, forget pride for now and join hands with the party as led by Amb Illya Damagun to reposition this party back to winning ways.”