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 has threatened disciplinary action against him, including possible expulsion from the party.
The acting Chairman of the Rivers State PDP, Robinson Ewor, made this statement during a press conference in Port Harcourt on Tuesday. He criticized the recent Supreme Court ruling on the defection of 27 lawmakers from the Rivers State House of Assembly and the withholding of the state’s monthly statutory allocation.
In a statement issued at the end of the party’s State Working Committee conference, Ewor accused the Supreme Court of bias, alleging that it granted reliefs on issues that were not presented before it.
Ewor also stated that Wike’s involvement in Ahmed Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress (APC) administration is a clear sign that he is no longer loyal to the PDP. He argued that Wike’s actions have damaged the party’s reputation and constitute 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 bodies, including the National Executive Committee (NEC), the National Working Committee (NWC), and the state executive committees.
He indicated that, depending on the severity of Wike’s actions, the party could either suspend or expel him.
“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 reaffirmed the PDP’s commitment to maintaining internal discipline and safeguarding its integrity, stressing that Wike’s continued association with the APC-led government is unacceptable.
He warned that at the appropriate time, the party would take action against Wike for engaging in anti-party activities, which could include suspension or expulsion.
Additionally, the PDP challenged the APC’s eligibility to file a legal case against the local government elections, arguing that since the party did not participate in the elections, it had no legal standing to contest the results.
Ewor stated, “Nigeria is a federation with three federating units: the Federal, State, and Local Government systems.
“The Local Government system is the third tier of government with its own autonomy and should not be dragged into 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 key point of dispute in the Supreme Court’s ruling was the status of the 27 lawmakers who left the PDP for the APC.
The court ruled that they had not officially defected, a decision the PDP strongly rejects.
The party maintains that there is substantial evidence proving their defection, including sworn affidavits, public declarations, and their formal welcome by the APC’s then-acting chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, at a Polo Club event.
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