Why PDP cannot sanction Wike, Ortom, others�

thecornetadmin April 20, 2024

0 1 minute read

Governor Wike in a white attire and adorns a pair of sunglasses — Governor Wike

Taofeek Arapaja, the national vice chairman (Southwest) of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said that the party’s national executive committee lacked the powers to sanction minister of the federal capital territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike and others alleged of committing anti-party activities.

Punch reported that Arapaja, when contacted on the failure of the party’s NEC to sanction alleged errant leaders, said that the matter was not tabled before the body.

“I think that is not part of the activities of the NEC.

“We have different committees like the reconciliation committee and the disciplinary committee. So we have internal mechanisms to deal with things like that.”

He added that those alleged to have committed the act “have never been accused.”

“They have never been charged and they haven’t presented themselves for the disciplinary committee or anything. So, I don’t think that is for NEC to do.

“Whoever is alleging them of committing anti-party should forward their complaints to the disciplinary committee. That is just it. There are lots of mechanisms and processes that need to take place and things like that are not the duty of the NEC,” Arapaja reportedly said.

TheCornet reports that the opposition party held its NEC meeting on Wednesday, where it resolved to retain Umar Damagum as its acting national chairman.

Damagum, who originally is the party’s national vice chairman, assumed the position after the ouster of Senator Iyorchia Ayu.

Ayu was made to step down as the party’s leader in controversial circumstances. Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and a presidential aspirant for the party’s presidential ticket in 2023, had accused Ayu at the time of working to favour Abubakar Atiku in the race for the party’s ticket.

Atiku did win the ticket, but lost the support of Wike and four other governors of the party.

The aggrieved governors went on to support other presidential candidates.

For his role in ensuring he wins Rivers State in the presidential election, incumbent President Bola Tinubu appointed Wike, an opposition figure, into his cabinet.