Wike Accuses PDP Faction of Defying Court Orders, Creating ‘Illegal Structures’

By Margaret Abah

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has intensified his criticism of factions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing them of disregarding court judgments and engaging in what he described as fraudulent political arrangements.

Wike’s remarks come amid renewed internal disputes between rival camps in the party, including groups aligned with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and those loyal to the Wike-backed faction, over control of party structures.

The controversy follows the rejection by the Wike-aligned camp of what it termed an unauthorised National Executive Committee meeting, as well as the emergence of a caretaker committee reportedly led by Tanimu Turaki.

The faction maintained that no valid NEC meeting was held and insisted that Abdulrahman Mohammed and Senator Samuel Anyanwu remain the duly recognised party officials.

It further cited the Supreme Court’s April 30 ruling, which nullified the Makinde-backed PDP convention in Ibadan that produced the Turaki-led leadership, worsening the ongoing legitimacy crisis within the party.

Speaking during a media chat with journalists in Abuja, Wike criticised moves to establish what he described as illegitimate leadership structures within the PDP, stressing that only court-recognised authorities can lawfully manage the party’s affairs.

He dismissed claims of any valid interim arrangement, describing such actions as deceptive and a violation of the rule of law.

“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 said.

The minister warned against the creation of parallel structures, insisting that legitimacy can only be derived from lawful processes.

“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,” he added.

Wike also alleged that some party leaders were attempting to establish an illegal caretaker arrangement despite existing court pronouncements on the leadership dispute.

“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 said.

He further expressed concern over what he described as a decline in integrity among political and legal actors, accusing some senior figures of undermining institutions for personal interests.

“People you expect to uphold the law are the ones trying to bend it. That is the tragedy of our system,” Wike stated.