FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike (left), with Chief Olabode George
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has hailed the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which restrained the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from holding its planned National Convention in 2025.
The court had ruled that the convention will not hold until the party fully complies with all statutory requirements. Speaking during a meeting of eminent leaders and concerned stakeholders of the PDP on the restoration of order to the party shortly after the verdict, the Minister described the ruling by Justice James Omotosho as a decisive blow against impunity within the party.
He stated that it reinforced the necessity of due process and adherence to the party’s Constitution and the Electoral Act. Wike shared mixed emotions, calling the ruling a victory over impunity, yet expressing sadness over the unsettled state of the PDP. He said, “We are happy that we have fought impunity, but we are not happy with what is going on.”
“What is key for us is that we have made sacrifices. It has nothing to do with personal interest”, Wike stated, adding, “It’s unfortunate that the so-called National Convention cannot hold, it has never been bad like this in the Peoples Democratic Party”.
The Minister further emphasized that an opposition party must operate with the highest level of integrity and adherence to rules to gain the public’s confidence and effectively wrestle power from the ruling party. “The essence of opposition is to wrestle power from the ruling party. No opposition party carries on with impunity.
“We have to put our house together and follow due process in order to give confidence to the public that we are here to do things differently”, he added.
Wike absolved the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, of blame for the PDP’s current predicament, insisting that the crisis is self-inflicted and driven by selfish interests and a disregard for foundation members.
Meanwhile, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees, BoT, Chief Bode George, has expressed anger over the judgment. In a statement he issued personally, George described it as a threat to Nigeria’s democratic stability.
“This judgment will consume this country. This is a threat to Nigeria’s democratic stability. It is time the judge removed his wig and gown and joined politics,” George said in a statement.
The former Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the National Judicial Council to address what he termed an unjustifiable intervention capable of triggering disorder.
“Judges are not politicians. Their duty is to interpret the law, not to meddle in party administration,” he added.
