By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says he will not leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and pledges his continued support for the party.
Wike said this at the 108th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party convened in Abuja on Monday, April 20, by the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led National Working Committee (NWC).
He noted that he has been a member of the PDP since 1998 and assured members that he would not leave the PDP to any other platform.
“On my own part, let me assure you, I’ll continue to support the party. I will continue to be loyal to the party. Since 1998 till now, I’ve been a member of the PDP, and I will not leave the party. That is the truth of the matter,” Wike said.
The minister also called for the inauguration of a committee on reconciliation with a mandate to reach out to all aggrieved members who had left the PDP.
Wike stressed that defected members would receive whatever is due them if they returned, as he urged the building of a united party.
The minister also commended those who remained with the camp despite the factional crisis rocking the party.
He said, “I want to commend all of you, the leaders, for being faithful and committed. In fact, despite all the temptations for you to have abandoned your party, you said no, that you continue to be here. I want to thank all of you.
“That shows people who are loyal, that shows you want to remain a member of this party. I thank you so much. Just like other speakers have said, now we are together; we must stop at reconciliation. The more the merrier.
“So, let us not say that those who have defected let them go. No, Chairman and your team, make sure you put up a strong committee that will still go ahead and talk to those who have defected. And whatever is due to them, they will still have it.
“Most of them may have defected because of uncertainty. If like, I want to run an election, and I’m not sure who will sign my documents to be presented to INEC. So most people will definitely find where they can get succour. But now, if you go and talk to them, I believe they will rethink and continue to support this party.”
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Wike also acknowledged that there was a pending litigation over the status of the PDP but expressed confidence that the party’s lawyers would win the case.
“Let us also assure those of you who have said, believing that the matter is in the court. I believe that our lawyers are doing great work, and I want to leave it to our lawyers.
“We are confident that our lawyers have been doing great work. God, who has led this far, can never abandon us. So if God wanted to abandon us, we wouldn’t have started winning,” he added.
In their opening remarks at the NEC meeting, the National Chairman of the Wike-led PDP camp, Abdulrahman Mohammed, and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, also called for the party’s unity and rebuilding of the PDP.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the NEC stressed its commitment to reconciliation and to resolving its internal issues through dialogue and adherence to party structures.
The communiqué, signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Honourable Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, noted, “The party declared that it is not in distress, stating that the era of uncertainty is over.
“NEC emphasised reconciliation, collective responsibility, and resolving internal issues through dialogue and adherence to party structures.”
Among others, the meeting endorsed the ongoing electronic membership registration (e-registration) to modernise the party’s database, enhance transparency, and boost grassroots participation.
It also adopted the timetable and schedule for party primaries, including Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms.
The communiqué added, “It (NEC) directed full compliance with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines and timelines for membership register submission, primaries, and dispute resolution.
“All organs and stakeholders were urged to begin immediate preparations for state primaries in line with the approved schedule.
“Discipline and Loyalty: NEC called on all members to remain disciplined and loyal and prioritise the party’s collective interest above personal ambitions.”
