The acting national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Umar Damagum, has said the party is ready to show the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, that he is not above the party.
He said this while responding to questions during a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday.
Mr Damagum noted that Wike and other individuals engaging in anti-party activities will face consequences of their actions when the time comes.
He said, “Our stand about Wike, I have always said this thing that as long as you are a member of the PDP, there is a time for everything. My duty is to stabilise this party and not to cause crisis. And I will continue to do that within the confines of reason.
“When things go out of hand, we will act. But meanwhile, we still see it within the ambit of the law. Mind you, we have other litigation going on in this party and we won’t want to plunge our party into another crisis.
“And let me tell you something, it’s not only Wike, there are other people who worked against this party. When we get to that level we will sanction everybody. If Wike believes he is above this party, we will be able to show him that he is not above this party.”
Though, Wike has never denied being a member of the PDP, according to Damagum, who added that the committee for the party’s 2023 review, which has not yet been constituted, would submit a report and suggest suitable penalties for individuals who engage in anti-party actions.
“They are to review what happened in 2023 and come out with a report not only about one person, but every person who has in one way or another engaged in anti-party. Then after that, we will see what kind of measure to take”, he added
Recall that Mr Wike had led a group of five PDP governors, known as G5, who worked against the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the February election.
The other members of the G5 were governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, the then governors of Benue State, Samuel Orton, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State.
Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the 25 February presidential poll beating Atiku to second place.
However, President Bola Tinubu as a way of compensating Nysom Wike made him the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
