Emmanuel Badejo September 8, 2023

• ‘Their actions inimical to party’s progress’

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has urged the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to suspend former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and immediate past Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal from the party.

Wike, who spoke yesterday on Channels Television evening programme “Politics Today”, said the actions of the duo were inimical to the progress of the main opposition party.

The FCT minister, who was reacting to Wednesday’s tribunal verdict, stressed that the judges had shown that they knew their onions and could not be intimidated to do what was not right.

Asked if the presidential election was fair, the immediate past Rivers State governor said there was no other way the wishes of the people could be reflected than through the ballot.

“How do you determine the will of the people?  Is it not through the ballot box,” he queried?

According to him, the actions of some PDP chieftains including those of the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku, and Tambuwal, led to the party’s abysmal outing during this year’s general election.

He said: “How would the PDP have won that election when it refused to consider the mood of the nation at that time? Look at the areas where PDP lost. It lost because of arrogance, greed and impunity.

“That is why I am calling on the National Working Committee of the party to suspend the presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; the immediate governor of Sokoto State Aminu Tambuwal, from the party so that they can rebuild the party.”

Wike dismissed some PDP chieftains calling for his suspension, saying he had not done anything wrong against his party that would warrant his suspension.

“The party knew that I didn’t do anything wrong. How will some people who don’t know about the genesis of our party be calling for my suspension?

“They should even congratulate us for standing for equity, justice and fairness. The party stood against the will of Nigerians and Nigerians are superior to the party.”

Wike also took a swipe at Ovation Magazine publisher and columnist, Dele Momodu.

“What can somebody like him say in PDP? Does he have electoral value? He said he is from Edo State. What did he win for the party in his state?” he queried.

The minister said Nigerians expressed their electoral direction through this year’s general election, adding that the court has affirmed their verdict.

Wike said he knew that the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, would not win the election.

“I am a realist. That is why we should praise the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The way the election went showed that it was a perfect election. I give it to INEC. In the past election, it was not possible for the likes of Obi to pull such numbers.

“Election is not about you as a person. You might be a good man, but the reality on the ground at that time was not favourable to you.

“Forget about sentiment. Yes, being a younger candidate, people might have preferred that.  But the reality was different,” he said.