By Ismail Shuaib
ABUJA: The crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party PDP reached a boiling point on Friday as the party defiantly announced that it would proceed with its planned national convention despite a court order stopping it – even as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike, declared that “nobody will use us to negotiate.”
Hours after the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Kolawole Omotosho, restrained the party from holding its November 15–16 convention in Ibadan, the PDP leadership fired back, dismissing the ruling as an “assault on democracy.”
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the party insisted that the judgment had not invalidated preparations for the crucial convention to elect new national officers.
“The judgment of the court does not vitiate our ability to proceed with the processes and activities towards the National Convention to elect new national officers to pilot the affairs of the Party for the next four years,” the statement read.
The PDP, citing a recent Supreme Court pronouncement affirming the supremacy of political parties in managing their internal affairs, urged its members nationwide to remain “steadfast and focused” on convention preparations.
While affirming its respect for the rule of law, the party disclosed that it had instructed its legal team to immediately appeal the ruling, vowing to defend democracy and party independence.
“We remain unwavering in our determination to uphold, defend and promote multi-party democracy in Nigeria,” the statement added.
Wike Mobilises Loyalists, Vows Resistance
Meanwhile, the judgment appeared to have reignited a new wave of mobilisation among Wike’s loyalists within the PDP.
At a meeting held at his Life Camp residence in Abuja, the FCT Minister told party stakeholders that no individual or group would be allowed to use him or his supporters as bargaining chips in the party’s internal power struggle.
“Let me be clear: nobody, and I mean nobody, will use us to negotiate for anything. We are part of this party; we have sacrificed for it. But we will not allow anybody to trade us off for personal gain,” Wike declared to thunderous applause.
The meeting, attended by key party figures including PDP National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu, former governors Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), former Senate Minority Leader Philip Aduda, Hon. Micah Jiba, several members of the Board of Trustees, and senators from the South-East, South-South, and North-Central zones, was held to review the court’s decision and the party’s next steps.
Wike said the struggle was not about personal ambition but about rescuing the PDP from what he called “impunity, arrogance, and manipulation.”
“Those of us fighting today are not doing so for ourselves. We are doing it because we want the PDP to stand for something — for due process, fairness, and respect for law,” he stated.
He accused some party leaders of hijacking the party’s internal structure and zoning arrangements for personal interests, alleging that funds meant for party activities were being diverted.
“A few people sit in their homes and decide where positions will go. They even pocket the funds meant for the process. It has never been this bad in the PDP,” he lamented.
Wike also warned PDP governors against using state resources to deepen divisions within the party, saying the available funds should instead be channelled into development and job creation.
“The funds available to states today are more than ever before. That money should be used to build infrastructure and reduce unemployment – not to weaken our party. We will not agree to that,” he said.
The minister insisted that his camp remained open to reconciliation but would never succumb to intimidation or blackmail.
“We are open to peace, but we will not be blackmailed. We will continue to stand for truth and fairness until justice prevails in the PDP,” he declared.
A communiqué is expected at the end of the closed-door meeting, which drew participants from all six geopolitical zones.
