PDP crisis: Wike accuses Turaki, others of disregard for court rulings
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday criticised factions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Seyi Makinde, Taminu Turaki and others over the
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday criticised factions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Seyi Makinde, Taminu Turaki and others over the party’s lingering leadership crisis.
Wike accused the groups of deliberately disregarding court rulings, warning that such actions undermine democratic principles.
Speaking during a media chat in Abuja, the minister dismissed claims of an interim leadership arrangement, describing the move as illegal and misleading.
He said: “When will people stop being fraudulent? You cannot disobey court judgments and then turn around to deceive Nigerians that you have a legitimate structure. That is not how democracy works.”
Wike maintained that only a leadership recognised by the courts can legitimately administer the affairs of the party, stressing that any parallel structure amounts to illegality.
“You don’t form a leadership in your bedroom and call it a national structure. Let them open an office anywhere and call it PDP secretariat I dare them. That is how you know what is real and what is not,” Wike stated.
He argued that ongoing attempts to constitute what he described as an “illegal caretaker arrangement” were efforts to mislead party members and the public, stressing that the judiciary had already provided clarity on the matter.
“The court has made it clear who should run the affairs of the party pending a lawful convention. You cannot ignore that and start setting up another structure. That is fraud 419,” he added.
Wike further criticised what he termed the erosion of integrity among some political actors, including senior lawyers and party leaders, accusing them of undermining institutions for personal gain.
“People you expect to uphold the law are the ones trying to bend it. That is the tragedy of our system,” he said.
