All seems not to be well between the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike and the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus. Wike and Secondus are both from Rivers State.
Investigation revealed that the choice of Wike’s successor in 2023, and the control of PDP structures both at national and in the River State, are among the causes of disagreement between the two.
Before now, a cold war had existed between the duo events leading to the 2018 PDP presidential primary in Port Harcourt, which former Vice-President Atiku Abubkar won. Wike had supported Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, to be PDP’s presidential candidate in 2019.
A source said the governor was not only angry that Secondus did not work for his candidate to emerge as the party’s candidate, but warned other NWC members to distant themselves from all the 12 presidential aspirants and their perceived supporters.
This time, it is alleged that the clash between the two is about who becomes governorship candidate of PDP in Rivers State in 2023 governorship election.
The governor seems to prefer Austin Opara while Secondus wants his cousin, Tele Ikuru, as the next flag bearer of PDP in Rivers State.
The camp of the governor is therefore no longer comfortable with Secondus as National Chairman and will prefer a neutral person in that position before 2023.
Ikuru served as deputy governor, first to Celestine Omehia, and later, to Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, after the latter won his case in 2018 at the Supreme Court. Opara on his part was Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2007 and is from Ikwere.
