Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Wednesday taunted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to suspend him as a party member.
He also stated that no one in the PDP has the authority to discipline him, and that he should be the one to reprimand those who breached the party’s constitution on a rotating basis.
Wike spoke against the backdrop of the PDP’s turmoil before of the 2023 presidential election, in which he and others known as the G5 Governors conspired against the party’s presidential nominee, Atiku Abubakar.
The former Rivers State Governor then accepted a ministerial position in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The news spurred new speculation that the PDP leadership could suspend Wike for anti-party conduct.
However, in an interview with Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Wike stated that the PDP cannot suspend him from the party.
He further criticized the PDP leadership, claiming that the person seeking to suspend him could not present a Governor, three Senators, or Assembly members in his state, despite giving the PDP the Governorship seat, State Assembly members, and National Assembly members in Rivers State.
He said: “How can anybody talk about expelling me? A state that provided the Governor? A State that brought three Senators? A State that produced 32 Assembly members? A State that produced 11 out of 13 House of Reps.
“The person that wants to suspend me is the one that couldn’t produce a Governor or three Senators or Assembly. I’ve not seen that person that will suspend me in PDP. Nobody will do it.
“Who will discipline me? I should be the one calling for discipline for those who violated the party’s constitution on rotation. I want to dare anyone who will say I should be suspended. I’m a man of character.
Wike stated that he sought approval from the PDP before accepting Tinubu’s cabinet job, and that he worked for justice, equity, and fairness.
“I wrote to my party about my nomination, and they replied that I should accept it. Forget about their rantings, they are all regretting their actions, and that’s what led the party to what it is today. I worked in favour of justice, equity and fairness,” he said.
Wike went on to say that some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are upset that President Tinubu appointed him as a minister. Despite this, the former Rivers State Governor has stated that he will remain a member of the PDP.
“God supports the action we’ve taken to support President Tinubu. Some APC members are not happy that I’m FCT minister. At my level, do I need to play game? Why will you put my name? I’m still a member of PDP. I’m not a kid, if I want to play a role, I will. I’m not a member of APC,” Wike submitted.
