PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, a prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftain and former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), has launched a scathing attack on key figures in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing them of covertly supporting the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
In a statement issued from Port Harcourt, Eze singled out the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, former PDP chieftain Bode George, and several PDP Governors for what he described as their indirect support for Tinubu’s second-term bid, despite the current challenges faced by Nigerians under his leadership.
Eze, who is also a member of the APC Legacy Projects Media Committee, rejected any notion that Wike could fit into former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s political portfolio, given Wike’s rejection as Atiku’s Vice Presidential candidate ahead of the 2023 general elections. He labelled Wike’s behavior post-rejection as “unsavory” and criticized the FCT Minister for resorting to inflammatory remarks aimed at Atiku.
“Wike’s dismal performance during the PDP presidential primaries, coupled with his outright rejection by Atiku, has left him in a state of political shock,” Eze stated. “Since then, Wike has been attacking Atiku, one of Africa’s greatest democrats, and resorting to invectives to nurse his bruised ego.”
Eze also contended that Wike’s public statements, along with those of Bode George and some PDP Governors, were symptomatic of a broader plan to facilitate Tinubu’s continued rule. He suggested that these individuals were subtly working towards ensuring Tinubu’s re-election by undermining Atiku’s political aspirations.
“If Atiku had picked Wike as his running mate, he would have done anything, both lawful and unlawful, to ensure Atiku’s victory, but the reality is that Atiku would not have survived the dangers of such a partnership,” Eze asserted, pointing to Wike’s infamous political style and the “toxic politics of bitterness” he embodies.
Eze further expressed his support for Atiku’s decision to reject Wike, describing it as a “great relief” not only to Atiku’s life but to the entire nation, given Wike’s well-documented political conduct. He called on Nigerians not to take Wike’s statements about his rejection too seriously, stressing that they were born out of frustration and had no bearing on Atiku’s future plans.
Turning his attention to Bode George, Eze dismissed the elder statesman’s comments about the PDP’s potential demise under Atiku’s leadership. Eze accused George of playing divisive politics and undermining PDP’s prospects in Lagos during the 2023 elections. “Bode George ensured that both PDP and Labour Party failed in Lagos, and now he seeks to repeat the same destructive role ahead of the 2027 elections,” Eze remarked.
On the subject of the PDP Governors, Eze was blunt in his assessment. He accused them of scheming to either prevent the PDP from fielding a viable presidential candidate in 2027 or ensuring that any candidate put forward would have little chance of success. He suggested that the PDP Governors’ primary interest was in securing personal gains for their re-election, not in advancing the welfare of Nigerians.
Eze also addressed the growing discourse within the opposition, particularly Atiku’s proposal to form a coalition to unseat President Tinubu. He expressed his belief that for any opposition force to successfully challenge Tinubu in 2027, there must be a united front. “The position of the PDP Governors that they would not participate in a coalition shows their focus on personal political gains, rather than on the needs of the Nigerian people,” he said.
“Opposition parties must unite in principle and action if they are to dislodge the APC from power,” Eze emphasized. “The time for a coalition is now, and when some of these governors realize its momentum, they will align with the project.”
Eze concluded by urging PDP Governors to reconsider their position, warning that their current approach to politics would only contribute to the suffering of Nigerians and prolong the inept governance currently in place.
