ABUJA, Nigeria — The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has openly challenged his party’s leadership, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, daring them to suspend or discipline him.
The bold proclamation came during Wike’s appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Wednesday, August 30, 2023, where he confidently declared, “Who will discipline me? I should call for the discipline of these people who violated the party’s constitution.”
Wike’s remarks point to internal tensions within the PDP, largely seen as an opposition party to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, informed PDP leadership that he accepted a ministerial role in the government of President Bola Tinubu, who is from the APC.
He insisted that his affiliation with the ruling party doesn’t affect his loyalty to the PDP.
“I want to support Asiwaju [Tinubu] to finish well,” Wike stated, affirming that he remains a PDP chieftain while working for the APC government. “We are just waiting for the presidential panel to finish; you will know who actually are those working well for the party,” he added.
The minister’s challenge to the PDP leadership raises questions about the party’s unity and capacity to be an effective opposition.
Wike seemed to allude to his influence within the party and the significant electoral victories in his home state of Rivers, saying, “How can anybody talk about expelling me? A state that brought a governor? A state that produced three senators? A state that produced 32 House of Assembly members?”
He continued, “The person that would suspend me is the one that couldn’t produce a governor, is the one that couldn’t produce three senators? I have not seen that person. Nobody will do it. So, the issue of they will do it does not arise.”
Wike’s comments have sent ripples through the Nigerian political landscape, with analysts noting that his audacious stance could either solidify his position within the PDP or lead to an internal schism that might weaken the party ahead of future elections.
Party insiders and political observers alike are keenly watching the unfolding situation, waiting to see if Wike’s daring challenge will result in action or further deepen the fault lines within one of Nigeria’s most prominent political parties.
