Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has thrown his weight behind the suspension of Ambassador Umar Damagum, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring that the party cannot continue to tolerate acts of impunity.
The crisis within the PDP escalated on Saturday after a faction loyal to Wike, led by the embattled National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, announced the suspension of Damagum and five other members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
Anyanwu’s announcement came just hours after his own suspension by the Damagum-led NWC following an emergency meeting. The faction later held a press briefing where it also suspended Debo Ologunagba (National Publicity Secretary), Taofeek Arapaja (Deputy National Chairman, South), Daniel Woyenguikoro (National Financial Secretary), Sulaiman Kadade (National Youth Leader), and Setonji Koshoedo (Deputy National Secretary).
Speaking on Politics Today, Wike said the decision to suspend Damagum was justified, stressing that discipline must return to the party.
“We cannot continue to allow impunity,” Wike said.
The minister also accused some governors of using public funds to deepen internal divisions within the PDP instead of focusing on governance.
“The problem we are having today in the PDP is that the kind of money in the hands of the governors is so much,” he said. “I praised the President for allowing so much money in the hands of states, which has never happened. But I was thinking this money should be put in the development of our states — not to use it to scatter a party that has built you and made you who you are today.”
Wike’s comments mark a new phase in the PDP’s leadership crisis, as rival factions continue to battle for control ahead of the party’s next convention.
