A relatively unknown PDP member, Chief Promise Nwankwo on Sunday challenged Governor Nyesom Wike openly at a public function held at Afara in the Etche Local Government Area.
Nwankwo, who was rescued from arrest by Prince Emma Anyanwu, an elder of the PDP, is believed to have condemned the Governor in full public glare for appearing to encourage an ongoing battle by Chief Allwell Onyeso to take over the leadership of the Etche PDP.
Although there are indications that the decampee may have been working behind the scene with members of the party, including Governor Wike, Onyeso defected to the PDP early this year
Trouble started when the Governor in his speech referred to Prince Emma Anyanwu and Allwell Onyeso as leaders of Etche.
Sources present at the occasion of the official defection of Chief Ambrose Nwuzi to the PDP told the Telegraph that the Governor was astonished by the breach of protocol and the vitriolic attack launched by Nwankwo who is reputed to be the Chief of Staff to the Etche Council Chairman.
Nwankwo condemned the attempt by Governor Wike to equate Prince Emma Anyanwu with Chief Allwell Onyeso.
He insisted that Anyanwu is the defacto leader of the PDP in Etche and wondered why the Governor would choose to place Anyanwu and Onyeso at the same level.
His outburst stirred reactions within the crowd of PDP supporters who came every ward in chartered buses to be part of the prigramme.
Obviously annoyed by Nwankwo’s verbal attack, the Governor immediately ordered his arrest and detention.
It however took the intervention of Prince Anyanwu to persuade the Governor to forgive Nwankwo.
But the incident showed that many PDP members across the State are unhappy about what they suspect, is the intention of Wike’s new friends who have just joined the party, to challenge existing structures.
A PDP member who spoke to this publication in Port Harcourt remarked, “How can the Governor use persons who were engaged in the destabilization of the APC to undermine PDP structures just for his own benefit?
“What happened in Etche is unfortunate, but what that young man said shows how unhappy people who have toiled for this party are.
“Governor Wike shouldn’t behave as if the PDP belongs to him. That would be futile.”
There is growing animosity against Wike within the rank and file of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Many accuse him of spending much needed funds which could enhance the welfare of party members on the procurement of persons who fought them in the past.
“Now, we sit down and watch as absolute strangers who are declaring for the party on the instruction of the Governor are the ones who are benefitting.
“It is time shine our eyes. Governor Wike is waging a war against us. We must resist him before he takes away the party from us.”
Some PDP members say there is nothing wrong in bringing new members into the fold.
“We need to woo news members into the party as we prepare for 2023. Perhaps, the worry of those who oppose the style of the Governor stems from the fact that these new entrants are not taking their place in the queue.
“They want to overtake those who are already in the party. This is not good enough for party discipline. I pray that they would not transmit the APC virus which runs in their veins to the PDP.”