The Director of News and Politics at Arise Television, Sumner Sambo, has provided insights into the internal dynamics of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following its recent national convention, noting the emergence of Nyesom Wike as national leader amid ongoing legal and political developments.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Monday, March 30, 2026, Sambo referenced multiple high-profile engagements conducted during the convention.
He stated, “Very interesting question you’re asking, Ayo, because I had an interview with Nyesom Wike with Sule Lamido, with Bukola Saraki, former Senate President, and then with Ahmed Makarfi, former governor, former acting national chairman of the PDP.”
Sambo explained the responses he received, saying, “And I put these questions to all of them yesterday. And they said that due to the exigencies of the PDP and how Wike has been able to, within the circumstances, prevail over the circumstances that have happened to the party, I mean, you need to give him his flowers.”
He added, “And in this instance, they cannot object to Wike being named the national leader of the party pending whatever the Supreme Court is going to say.”
He further noted, “But for now, there’s a political organization that has to be in place. And that political organization within the PDP seems to have favored Nyesom Wike to have emerged.” On the composition of the National Working Committee (NWC), Sambo stated, “And almost everyone he nominated as a national working committee chairman or secretary and all of that, scaled through.”
However, he highlighted areas of contention, saying, “But then you see that there’s controversy as to why people like Ajibade, the national legal advisor, and that’s Kamaldeen Ajibade, and Samuel Anyanwu, will still be part of this NWC when the court had affirmed that they were duly, you know, suspended in the last national working committee.”
He added, “So a whole lot of things. And this is where we expect the Supreme Court to be bold, to be audacious, to be very swift in helping us.” Sambo also provided context to Wike’s political moves, stating, “Because Nyesom Wike was also at a situation whereby his own aspirants were not being given oppositions or opportunities in APC, and he needs a platform to allow them to run.”
He continued, “That’s why you see that he tried to meet with Bala Mohammed, and he confirmed talking with Bala Mohammed on Wednesday to me.”
He concluded, “He said he tried his best, but unfortunately as of Thursday, things went south, and whatever has happened, he had to go ahead with the convention. So, well, he has eventually emerged as the national leader until maybe the Supreme Court sets that aside.”