Can PDP Now Cut Wike to Size?

A Federal High Court in Abuja has finally given the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the nod to suspend or expel former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike.

In a judgment on a suit filed by Wike, prior to the 2023 general election, to seek for a court order to stop PDP from taking action against him without fair hearing, Justice James Omotosho ruled that as long as the party acts in accordance with the law, it can suspend or expel the former governor.

For fear of being expelled by the PDP for the alleged unimaginable atrocities he committed against it, the ex-governor had sued the party, its National Working Committee (NWC) and the National Executive Committee (NEC) as 1st to 3rd respondents.

Recall that in the buildup to the 2023 presidential election, Wike had lost the presidential ticket of the PDP to the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and the party’s vice presidential ticket to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, and became inconsolable.

With the limitless resources at his disposal which he allegedly invested heavily with reckless abandon, Wike had believed he was making waves in his aspiration to clinch the PDP ticket. However, many were displeased with his alleged ignoble conduct, which was characterised by his unrestrained verbal attacks on his fellow governors and his alleged attempts to hijack the party’s structures in their states. It was not surprising that he lost woefully to Atiku. He had initially accepted defeat and pledged his support for the former vice president after he was allegedly promised the vice presidential ticket.

But he made a U-turn and started weeping inconsolably when he lost the ticket to Governor Okowa. With the huge resources at his disposal, he was able to mobilise four other governors  to work against Atiku. Wike and his group, who pride themselves as G-5 not only played anti-party activities, they also dragged Atiku and the National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu’s names in the mud, and ensured that the former vice president lost the presidential election.

Wike had openly worked for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the presidential election and is allegedly lobbying for the ministerial slot meant for the members of the Rivers APC while he remains in the PDP, because according to him, APC is a cancer.

Now that the court has given the PDP a go-ahead, the party is expected to discipline him like an ordinary member which he has become with the expiration of his tenure as governor.