The Peoples Democratic Party National Disciplinary Committee has received reports on alleged anti-party activities of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and others from the National Working Committee, Sunday PUNCH has learnt.
The committee, led by a former Foreign Affairs Minister, Tom Ikimi, was set up to address and manage all disciplinary matters.
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, and others were reportedly summoned by the party to appear before the panel following a series of petitions against them bordering on allegations of anti-party activities and sabotage during the 2023 elections.
Five former governors of the PDP, led by Wike, allegedly worked against the party and its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, during the 2023 election.
Wike, Seyi Makinde (Oyo State), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu State), Samuel Ortom (Benue State), and Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State fell out with Atiku over the refusal of the former National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, to relinquish his position to a southerner.
The PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, told Sunday PUNCH that Wike, alongside former members of the G-5, and others who were accused of anti-party activities were being summoned to face the panel.
“People are not getting these things; Nigerians have been saying that there is no opposition and that PDP is not active, but now we have constituted two committees to probe the alleged involvement of members in anti-party and sabotage on the party’s chances.
“One of the committees is to reconcile and the other is to discipline where you find defaulters. None of them has sat; what I said previously was that the committees had commenced work. They are doing a letter to Wike and several others that have been petitioned so that they can come and explain their roles as alleged in the elections, pre and post,” Abdullahi said.
When asked if other former G-5 members would also be probed, Abdullahi said, “Yes, if Wike will be summoned, I do not know why others will be exempted. If Wike who is still holding a federal appointment and is even the leader of the ring will be called upon, then it suffices to say that those ones (other G-5 members) are automatic.”
The PDP chieftain insisted the probe of Wike and the others would not cause division in the party but rather instill discipline among members and prevent future reoccurrence of anti-party activity.
Meanwhile, a senior member of the PDP NWC, who requested anonymity due to lack of authorisation to comment, confirmed to Sunday PUNCH that the NWC had submitted the report on anti-party activities of Wike and others to the Ikimi’s committee.
The source, however, said the panel had yet to invite Wike and others for the probe.
“Yes, the NWC has handed over reports on anti-party activities and other relevant information to the disciplinary committee chaired by Ikimi.
“But I don’t think they have invited Wike or anybody. You should ask Ikimi, or anyone who told you to provide evidence that Wike has been invited”, the source added.
However, when Sunday PUNCH reached out to the secretary of the panel, Eyitayo Jegede, he declined to comment and referred our correspondent to the chairman of the committee.
When contacted, Ikimi also declined comment, saying he was occupied with the Edo governorship election campaign.
“I am not even in Abuja; we are campaigning (for Edo governorship election). So, I can’t talk”, Ikimi said.
Speaking to Sunday PUNCH, an ally of Wike, Senator Olaka Wogu, described the purported invitation of Wike by the panel as speculation.
He said, “The panel has not invited him (Wike); nobody invited the man. Why should they say he has been invited when he has not been invited.”
A member of the National Executive Committee, Timothy Osadolor, confirmed that the call for Wike’s suspension was strong.
Osadolor, the Deputy National Youth leader of the PDP said members of the party were considering penalties such as suspension and expulsion for those involved in anti-party activities during the last general elections.
But a member of the reconciliation committee, Segun Sowunmi, called for caution in dealing with Wike and other powerful members of the party, insisting that if the issue was not well handled, it might lead to a bigger problem that might consume the party.
