By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The political crisis rocking Rivers State has been linked to a North/South divide within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which sources have confirmed could have implications for the general election in 2027.
Insiders in the main opposition party said that the situation within the PDP has led to a North/South divide and deepened uncertainty as to whether the party could recover from the effects of the growing discord ahead of the 2027 election.
Whereas the crisis in Rivers was largely seen as a disagreement between Governor Sim Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, the decision of some Northern interests to dabble into the matter on the side of the governor appeared to have changed its direction.
Investigations by the Nigerian Tribune confirmed that the Rivers’ crisis is, therefore, creating a wedge between Northern and Southern interests in the party, a development sources said could spell doom for the party in 2027.
It was gathered that despite the decision of some proponents of the mega political coalition to gather their arsenal under the umbrella of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), a good number of top politicians still believed that the PDP would provide the best opportunity to tackle the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
As a result of that, it was gathered that such politicians are believed to be working under the table to get hold of a crucial state like Rivers, which could be used as a launch pad for the 2027 presidential campaign of a top northern candidate.
For instance, it was gathered that while some loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Nwike were of the view that the development in Rivers should be treated as a Rivers’ affair, interests from the North took positions that were seen as a direct affront on the camp, leading to suspicions that the northern interests might be pushing for a takeover of the state so that it would be used to launch the 2027 presidential bid under the banner of the PDP.
The said northern interest, which has also permeated the ranks of the PDP governors, was said to have informed the decision to back Fubara against his predecessor, even though the PDP Governors’ Forum (PDPGF), which is backing Fubara had said that it was doing so in defence of the democratic institution and the office of the governor of a state.
“There are two divides in the PDP right now. There are those who feel that Fubara must be supported against Wike and there are those who feel that the issue in Rivers should be left for Wike and Fubara to resolve.
“It looks like those opposed to the latter position are mainly from the North and they appeared to have convinced the governors of the party to follow their thinking and that is the main problem the party is battling with. Those in Wike’s camp are, therefore, left to think that the governors’ were trying to do two things; gain control of Rivers and utilise that control for the benefit of a northern candidate in 2027,” a source stated.
It was gathered that following a meeting of the PDP governors in Bauchi State Government House late in 2023, a clear indication had emerged that the PDPGF would support Fubara in the emerging controversy.
But the bid to gain control of the state so as to support a northern candidate in 2027 is said to be a recent discovery, sources said.
Sources also stated that many of the PDP governors are oblivious of a secret plot to deploy Rivers as a launch pad for the 2027 battle against the APC, as the sources said that the governors appeared to be concerned only about the need to protect the office of a democratically elected governor.
Another source said that the Rivers’ crisis has, therefore, developed into a battle for the sustenance of Southern presidency on one hand and a plot to return power to the North soon after President Muhammadu Buhari on the other hand.
It was gathered that some stakeholders, who have been fighting the PDP from within, are of the view that the forces seeking to use Rivers as a weapon to prosecute the northern Presidency in 2027 should not be allowed and that the unwritten formula which favours a North/ South power rotation arrangement should remain in place till 2031.
Sources said that as far as the situation remains, the battle for the control of the PDP would intensify, and that the consequence is that the party could be so weakened it might not pose a threat in 2027.
“This development would have serious implications for the impact the PDP could have in the run-in to the 2027 polls,” a source said.
Nigerian Tribune