Why Fubara can’t afford to sit on the fence, by Andrew Agbese

Whatever happens at the PDP national secretariat today would definitely have an impact on the tussle between the Rivers State governor, Sim Fubara and his estranged godfather, Nyesom Wike, separate bids to control the party’s structures in the state.

Of the 13 PDP governors in Nigeria, Fubara is about the only one who cannot afford to sit on the fence as the party decides on who should preside over its affairs as national chairman.

Surprisingly, the Rivers State governor has not been as vocal and combative as one would have expected considering the implications of whatever happens at the NEC on his political future.

There are agitations for the seat to be retained by the North central zone since it has been the tradition in the party for the zone where the immediate past chairman comes from, to continue in the position.

But there are those who want the acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, who is from the North east to be made the substantive national chairman.

The caucus of the party, unable to walk through the maze, has chosen to postpone the D-day by deferring the day of decision till another National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party.

This is tactically in favour of Damagum continuing as national chairman of the party.

The division may seem ideological and devoid of vested interests until the forces behind the two options are laid bare.

Those that want Damagum to continue and by implication, the status quo are those in favour of the continuation of what is happening in the party now while those given to the idea of a new chairman, are those that want a radical departure from the current (dis)order and want certain changes in the party ahead 2027.

The two opposing divides are personified by FCT minister, Nyesom Wike and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar.

If the Wike forces have their way and Damagum is returned as national chairman or retained in acting capacity, it would definitely narrow the chances of Fubara getting out of his predicament as an embattled leader of the PDP in his home state of Rivers as Wike can use his influence at the national level to tighten his grip on the state’s party structure .

The implications of that is even gloomier politically for Fubara as Wike still has the upper hand over the governor in the other alternative party, the APC, in case things get too hard for Fubara and he decides on an escape route.

The only option for Fubara is to pull his weight behind the attempt by the Atiku camp to have a freshly minted chairman take over from where Iyorchia Ayu or Damagum stop.

If not any other thing, that would surely give Fubara some breathing space till he is able to settle down properly and assert himself as leader of the PDP in Rivers state.