Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has said he received the court judgment stopping the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its national convention with mixed feelings, but insisted that impunity must be brought down in the party.
Recall that Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, stopped the planned 2025 National Convention of the PDP until the party complies with the statutory requirements of the party, the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
Delivering judgment in a suit filed by three aggrieved members of the party, the judge also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting a report on the outcome of any national convention of the party without following the due process of the law, as well as its guidelines and regulations.
Wike, who disclosed on Friday in his official residence in Life Camp while addressing some PDP concerned stakeholders, said he was filled with different reactions. He said that while the ruling stands as one of the happiest days of his life, it is also the saddest because of how unsettled the party is.
He stated that leadership is very important, and when certain people become arrogant and do not recognise the sacrifices of some of the party stakeholders, it is only a matter of time before reactions spring up.
Wike said, ‘On one part, it’s one of my happiest days. On one hand, it’s one of my saddest days. So it’s like a mixed feeling. If you love your party, you will not be happy with what is going on in your party. And there are ways, if somebody or people who believe in justice want to fight impunity in your party.
‘So, on one part, we are happy that we have fought impunity on their part. We are not happy with the way our party is going. But what is key for all of us is that we all may make the sacrifice. I’ve said it several times to my colleagues; it has nothing to do with any personal interest. But I think it must be done very well.
‘It’s unfortunate that the so-called purported national convention cannot hold; it has never been bad like this in the Peoples Democratic Party.
‘Opposition party is supposed to put heads together and follow due process, but if you are not doing that, then you are sending a wrong message.’
Wike further urged PDP concerned stakeholders not to relent in their efforts in standing by the truth and to reject intimidation.
‘The last time we met, we said we are going to challenge any action that contravenes provisions of the party, and today, by the grace of God, the court has allowed justice to prevail.
‘Nobody will be intimidated; we will do what is right. What I expect the governors to do now is to use monies in the state to impact the lives of citizens and not to use it to kill our party,’ he added.
Some of the dignitaries in attendance include former governors of Benue and Abia states, Samuel Ortom and Okezie Ikpeazu, Senator Philip Aduda, present and former federal lawmakers, Rivers State lawmakers led by the Speaker of the House, Martin Amaewhule, and some PDP party state chairmen, among others.