A new book has exposed how former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors thwarted ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s efforts to implement critical financial reforms within the party.
The revelations, detailed in Wadata Wonders: Memoirs of a Partisan Journalist by Ike Abonyi, show how the PDP missed a chance to achieve financial independence due to resistance from its own governors.
According to the book, former PDP National Chairman Okwesilieze Nwodo had designed a reform proposal in 2010–2011 to fund the party through membership dues rather than relying on wealthy sponsors. The plan required at least 10 million PDP members to contribute ₦1,000 annually, generating ₦10 billion per year—enough to run the party without external influence. President Jonathan initially supported the idea after a pilot presentation at Aso Rock Villa.
However, when the proposal was presented at a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for ratification, Amaechi—then Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum—led a fierce opposition. The governors feared losing their financial grip on the party, particularly ahead of a major election.
“All that was needed to liberate the party from the cog of financial insolvency was for President Jonathan to insist on the reforms… But he didn’t do that at the NEC meeting,” the book stated.
Abonyi’s account claims the governors not only killed the proposal but also orchestrated Nwodo’s removal as party chairman to prevent further reform attempts. “The governors didn’t want their influence on the party whittled down… That was how the proposed reforms died on arrival,” the book noted.
The author argues that this marked the beginning of the PDP’s decline. “That act also marked the beginning of the loss of power by the PDP,” Abonyi concluded.
Launched in Abuja on Tuesday, the memoir provides an insider’s perspective on the PDP’s internal struggles, with several party dignitaries in attendance. The revelations have sparked fresh debates on how the party’s reliance on governors and moneyed interests ultimately weakened its structure—a lesson that remains relevant in Nigerian politics today.
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