PDP Set To Expel Wike For Alleged Anti-Party Activities

The acting Chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the PDP, Robinson Ewor, stated this during a press conference in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, where the party faulted the recent Supreme Court over its recent judgment regarding the defection of 27 lawmakers from the Rivers State House of Assembly and the seizure of the state’s monthly statutory allocation

The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of engaging in anti-party activities and threatened disciplinary action, including possible expulsion from the party.

The acting Chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the PDP, Robinson Ewor, stated this during a press conference in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, where the party faulted the recent Supreme Court over its recent judgment regarding the defection of 27 lawmakers from the Rivers State House of Assembly and the seizure of the state’s monthly statutory allocation.

The party in a statement issued on Tuesday in Port Harcourt by Ewor at the end of the party’s State Working Committee conference, accused the apex court of bias and granting reliefs on matters that were not presented before it.

Ewor stated that Wike’s role in President Ahmed Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) administration is a clear indication that his loyalty no longer lies with the PDP. He argued that Wike’s actions have undermined the party’s reputation and constituted anti-party behavior.

“Nyesom Wike is serving in the government of Ahmed Tinubu, there is no way his loyalty will be in PDP anymore. His loyalty 100 percent is in APC,” Ewor said.

“What constitutes anti-party activity is if you take actions that bring the party to disrepute. That is anti-party activity. The FCT minister has taken several actions that have brought the PDP to disrepute.”

Ewor warned that the party would take decisive action at the appropriate time through its established organs, including the National Executive Committee (NEC), the National Working Committee (NWC), and the state executive committees.

He suggested that the party could suspend or expel Wike depending on the severity of his actions.

“The party will take action at the appropriate time. You have organs of the party. We have the NEC, NWC, and the state executive committees. The party organs trickle down to the wards,” Ewor said.

Ewor maintained that the PDP is determined to uphold internal party discipline and protect its integrity, warning that Wike’s continued affiliation with the APC government is unacceptable.

He said at the appropriate time, action will be taken against Wike for anti-party activity, “including suspending him or expelling him from the party”.

The PDP also challenged the eligibility of the APC to initiate legal action against the local government elections, arguing that since the party did not participate in the elections, it lacked the legal standing to contest the results.

Ewor stated, “The Nigeria nation is a federation, with three federating units, the Federal, State and the Local Government System.

“The Local Government System is the third Tier of Government with autonomy, and therefore cannot be lumped in a dispute between two arms of the second tier of Government (State).

“By the provisions of the Constitution, the state can only guarantee its existence.

“Elections into the Local Government System is strictly conducted under the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission law (RSIEC) and not ‘the Electoral Act.’

“In this case, the Supreme Court voided the election with non-compliance with the 2022 Electoral Act, we completely disagree with their position.

“Electoral issues are resolved by the Election Tribunal. And actions can only be initiated by Parties that participated in the process.

“The litigant in this case the All Progressive Congress APC did not participate in the election and therefore have no locus standi to initiate the action against the election.

“Besides, the federal high court sitting in Abuja is not an election tribunal and cannot adjudicate on the October 5, 2024 Local Government election.”

A major point of contention in the Supreme Court’s ruling was the status of the 27 lawmakers who defected from the PDP to the APC.

The court ruled that they had not formally defected, a decision the PDP vehemently opposes.

The party insists that there is ample evidence of their defection, including sworn affidavits, public announcements, and their reception by the APC’s then-acting chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, at a Polo Club event.