Former spokesperson of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Kenneth Okonkwo, has alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has effectively handed its 2027 presidential ticket to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Speaking on Channels Television’s breakfast programme on Friday, Okonkwo claimed Wike has consistently imposed his will on the PDP, describing his style as dictatorial and anti-party.
“You were there when Wike said he will be supporting the presidential candidate of another political party. So where is it? He has told you that whatever he says is law, and if anybody goes against it, he will ignite fire in his state,” Okonkwo said.
The Nollywood actor-turned-politician recalled how Wike disregarded the South East’s preference for Udo Okoye as PDP’s National Secretary, insisting instead on Samuel Anyanwu, who eventually emerged.
“In fairness to him, it has always been like that. The entire South East said they preferred Udo Okoye as secretary of the party, and if it wasn’t given to them, they would leave the PDP. Wike said no, it had to be Samuel Anyanwu. And today, it is Samuel Anyanwu,” he noted.
Okonkwo stressed that the Supreme Court ruling affirming Anyanwu’s position was not an endorsement of Wike’s influence but a recognition of political parties’ right to choose their leaders.
He went further to accuse the FCT minister of open anti-party activities.
“What about the other things he’s saying? Is it not crude anti-party to declare you’re supporting the presidential candidate of another political party in the coming election? In 2023, he pretended to have a reason. In 2027, what’s the reason?
“There’s no PDP anymore. By Wike, their leader, the party has already zoned its presidential ticket to him — and that person is Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Okonkwo said.
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