Wike dismisses PDP appeal victory claim
Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has rejected claims by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party that a recent Court of Appeal judgment invalidated a lower court decision recognising the caretaker committee that produced the party’s current National Working Committee.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday after inspecting ongoing projects, Wike described the interpretation of the appellate court’s ruling as misleading and accused those promoting it of attempting to deceive party members and the public.
The minister, visibly dismissive of the claim, branded its promoters as “419s of different types and forms” and warned that legal practitioners who deliberately misrepresent court decisions risk professional sanctions.
“When a lawyer will come out to give different information, different from what the court has said, it is really unfortunate,” Wike said.
“You went on appeal and they say your appeal is dismissed. If your appeal was upheld, then you would have said it is correct. But they said your appeal is hereby dismissed. There is no life in it again. What it means is that you have lost and you have lost.”
According to the minister, a dismissed appeal could not reasonably be portrayed as a legal victory. He argued that the Court of Appeal had merely reaffirmed an issue that had already been settled by the Supreme Court regarding the convention at the centre of the dispute.
“The appeal court said, look, we have nullified this convention before. The Supreme Court has nullified this convention before. What are we going to say again? So there’s no more live issue,” he said.
Wike challenged members of the faction advancing the claim to present their case before the Independent National Electoral Commission, which was a party to the suit, instead of making public declarations.
“It is not a question of coming to the public to say different things, telling lies. If it has been invalidated, let them go to INEC now,” he said.
The minister added that the controversy would likely be settled once INEC publishes the list of candidates nominated by political parties ahead of forthcoming elections.
He also mocked claims that the faction had already settled on a presidential candidate, questioning why the purported candidate had yet to publicly acknowledge such an endorsement.
“They say they have a presidential candidate. Why not wait? Presidential candidate they say, has not made any statement. You are contesting the election on behalf of somebody. I don’t know when Nigeria has gone to the point that you are running, I’m the one that will run on behalf of you,” he said.
Wike further turned his attention to developments within the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, dismissing assertions by the faction led by Emeka Beke that it had nullified decisions taken by Tony Okocha and invalidated candidates produced by the party.
The minister argued that the claims reflected a misunderstanding of the legal issues involved, insisting that party primaries are conducted by the national leadership rather than state structures.
“Ask him what did the court say and also ask him whether the state carried out any primaries. The primaries are conducted by the National Working Committee of the party at the national level,” Wike said.
He maintained that the substantive matter remained unresolved, noting that the case was awaiting reassignment following the death of the judge who granted the original ex parte order.
The remarks are the latest indication of the deepening political and legal battles within both the PDP and APC, as rival factions continue to contest control of party structures ahead of the next electoral cycle.