The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has strongly criticized what he described as unconstitutional maneuvers within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), particularly efforts to remove the party’s National Secretary. He insisted that the Secretary was duly elected at the party’s National Convention and cannot be dismissed arbitrarily.
Speaking during a live media chat with journalists in Abuja on Monday, Wike expressed frustration over the deepening leadership crisis in the PDP, accusing certain stakeholders of bypassing the party’s constitution to pursue personal political agendas.
“Now you’re saying the National Secretary should no longer be Secretary who said that?” Wike queried. “He was elected by the National Convention, not appointed. You cannot just remove him by fiat.”
The former Rivers State governor said the dispute stemmed from a contested judgment of the Court of Appeal, which the Supreme Court ultimately overturned. According to him, the apex court recognized that the matter involved fundamental issues affecting the entire party and could not be determined in isolation.
“There were three judgments — two to one. But the Supreme Court rightly said this issue concerns the entire party and set aside the appellate decision,” he explained.
Wike also addressed claims that the position of National Secretary was zoned to the South East, dismissing them as misleading.
“It was never zoned to the South East. It was zoned to the South. And for the sake of unity and fairness, the South agreed among themselves on who should occupy the seat,” he said.
He condemned what he described as attempts to rewrite the party’s history and circumvent its established processes.
“Some people now want to claim powers they don’t have calling meetings, issuing notices. But who issued the NEC meeting notice? Only the Secretary is authorized. He didn’t issue one. That meeting was illegal,” Wike stated.
The Minister said it was “funny” that those appointed to office now claim the authority to preside over elected officials, warning that such moves erode internal democracy and violate the PDP’s constitution.
“How can an appointee preside over those elected by delegates across the country? Where is that done? It’s a total breach of our constitution,” he said.
He recalled how the removal of former National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu triggered similar constitutional debates, noting that the party’s succession rules were clear.
“When Ayu left, the constitution said someone from the same region should act not by appointment, but by an election. Leaders from the North Central rightly objected to attempts to bypass that process,” Wike said.
Referencing past efforts to broker peace, Wike noted that the Saraki-led Reconciliation Committee had worked to unify warring factions, but some party members had refused to cooperate.
“The committee, chaired by Dr. Bukola Saraki, reached out in good faith. But some people rejected peace. What does that tell you?” he asked.
Wike’s remarks underscore ongoing tensions within the PDP, Nigeria’s main opposition party, which continues to grapple with internal divisions. His defense of the National Secretary’s legitimacy adds another layer to the unfolding power struggle.
“The Secretary is not sick. He is not dead. He is still serving. So why are some people so desperate to remove him?” Wike asked.
