Who Scattered The PDP, Hijacked Rivers, And Turned The Pulpit To A Soap-Box? -By Isaac Asabor

Let us not sugar-coat it: if you are looking for the culprit behind the political ruins of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, the person whose iron grip strangled democracy, and now the same individual dragging partisan battles into the sanctuary of the Anglican Church, look no further than Nyesom Wike. He is the man who killed the PDP in Rivers, hijacked the entire machinery of governance, and wanted to toy with the sacredness of the pulpit for political showmanship.

Once hailed as a bold and vibrant political force, Wike has mutated into something more dangerous, a political steamroller that crushes anything standing in its path, including his own party, the PDP, and now, sadly, an attempt on the Anglican Church in the guise of thanksgiving service to God.

Wike did not just weaken the PDP in Rivers, he executed it. Under his leadership, the party ceased to be a democratic institution and became an extension of his personal ambition. There was no room for opposing views or inner-party democracy. He anointed candidates, silenced dissenters, and treated the party like a private estate. Rivers PDP became Wike’s echo chamber, a place where only his voice echoed and only his will prevailed.

Even after his tenure as governor ended, Wike refused to pass the baton. He installed a successor, Siminalayi Fubara, only to go on a vindictive rampage when the latter showed signs of political independence. Instead of allowing Fubara to govern, Wike tried to govern by proxy, leading to an ugly, avoidable crisis in the state. The cost? Democratic stability, peace, and progress, all sacrificed on the altar of one man’s insatiable appetite for relevance.

And now, having wrecked PDP and plunged Rivers State into political chaos, Wike seems to be turning his sights on yet another institution, the Anglican Church. If that sounds like an exaggeration, consider what transpired during his recent so-called “thanksgiving service.” What was supposed to be a solemn occasion to honor God degenerated into a political tirade.  Wike stood at the pulpit and launched verbal attacks on his perceived enemies, using the holy sanctuary as a political soapbox.

That single act was more than tasteless, it was dangerous. It prompted a swift and serious reaction from the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), which has issued new directives: no more political speeches during church services, no more consecrated lecterns for partisan outbursts, and clergy must be on alert to prevent further abuse.

The fact that it had to come to this is deeply troubling. It is a reminder that when political egos go unchecked, nothing, not even the sacred, is safe.

Make no mistake, Wike’s pulpit outburst was not an isolated slip. It is part of a disturbing pattern: take control, bulldoze opposition, and dominate every space, political or spiritual. It is the same playbook he used to kill PDP. It is the same method he used to hold Rivers hostage. Now, it is the same approach he is trying to deploy in the church.

Let us ask the hard question: if a man can destroy the foundational principles of his party, plunge an entire state into political unrest, and still carry that same belligerent energy into the sanctuary of God, what else is sacred to him?

Wike’s latest antics may earn him applause among sycophants, but for anyone who values the church as a neutral ground and a spiritual refuge, this is a red flag that must not be ignored. The church is not a political battleground. The pulpit is not a campaign stage. The gospel must not be adulterated with vendettas and partisan bile.

The Anglican Church was right to respond with urgency, but this must go beyond mere guidelines. There must be enforcement. Clergy must grow bold spines and reject the presence of political drama in the sanctuary, no matter who the actor is. That a politician holds a federal appointment or boasts connections in Abuja does not entitle him to hijack the pulpit.

In truth, what Wike did in the Anglican Church is no different from what he did in the PDP: disrespect the institution, personalize the platform, and bully others into silence. Just as he hijacked the Rivers State PDP and ruled it with fear, he is now trying to inject that same poison into the Church.

This must stop. The church must learn from the PDP’s downfall in Rivers. When an institution tolerates authoritarian tendencies, when it fails to draw the line early, it will eventually be consumed. The PDP became Wike’s puppet and died by his hands. If the Anglican Church fails to act decisively, it may soon find itself dragged into the same pit.

Let it be known: the church is not an extension of any political party. It is not a campaign platform. It is not a megaphone for vendetta. It is the house of God, and those who enter it must come in reverence, not with political scripts and partisan aggression.

This is not about denying politicians their right to worship. Wike, like every other Nigerian, has the right to attend church and thank God. But he must do so with humility, not hubris. He must know the difference between worship and war talk, between praise and provocation. If he must campaign, let him do it on the streets, in the media, or at the ballot box, but not from the altar.

The Anglican Church has now been placed in a historic moment of decision. It must either defend its sanctity or allow itself to become another casualty of political manipulation. One thing is clear: if Wike is not checked, today’s thanksgiving will become tomorrow’s political theatre, and the church will lose its voice.

Let every church in Nigeria take note. The Word must not be weaponized. The gospel must not be politicized. The pulpit must not be captured. Wike has already conquered political spaces; he must not be allowed to conquer spiritual ones too.

If the Anglican Church fails to say no now, it may one day wake up to find itself split, scandalized, and spiritually sterile. And if that day comes, the blame would not fall on Wike alone, it will fall on those who stood by and did nothing while the altar was being turned into a podium.

It is time to draw the line, clearly, boldly, and permanently. The PDP is gone. Rivers is in political tatters. But the church must not be the next victim. Wike must be told, without ambiguity that the pulpit is not a political playground, and that he should keep his drama outside.