Former spokesman of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Kenneth Okonkwo, has alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is firmly under the control of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Speaking in an interview on Friday, Okonkwo claimed that the former Rivers State governor has imposed his will on the opposition party, warning that the PDP has already lost its direction under his influence.

“You were there when Wike said he would be supporting the presidential candidate of another political party. He has always insisted that anything he says must stand, and that whatever goes against him would spark a crisis in his state,” Okonkwo said.

The Labour Party chieftain recalled how Wike rejected the South East’s choice of Udo Okoye as PDP National Secretary and pushed for Samuel Anyanwu, who eventually clinched the position.

“In fairness to him, it has been like that. The entire South East wanted Udo Okoye, but Wike insisted on Samuel Anyanwu. And today, it is Samuel Anyanwu,” he noted.

Okonkwo further explained that the Supreme Court judgment affirming Anyanwu’s position did not validate Wike’s dominance but merely underscored the right of political parties to appoint their leaders.

“The court simply said political parties have the right to choose whoever they so wish, and the judiciary cannot interfere,” he added.

Describing Wike’s stance as “crude anti-party,” Okonkwo insisted that the PDP has already decided its 2027 ticket in favour of President Bola Tinubu.

“In 2023, he pretended to have a reason. In 2027, what will be the reason? The PDP, through Wike, has already zoned its presidential ticket to Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he declared.