By Joyce Remi- Babayeju
The FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday challenged Turaki Tanimu led – rival faction in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to commence an operational secretariat by opening an official party bank account and an official office if they truly believe they control the opposition party’s structure.
Wike made this challenge during a live media chat with journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, when he accused some party leaders of misleading Nigerians and violating court judgments in the lingering leadership crisis rocking the PDP.
He insisted that the faction opposing the party’s recognised leadership lacked legal backing to lawfully operate the affairs of the party.
“You cannot continue to deceive Nigerians. If they are sure they are the authentic leadership of the PDP, let them open an official PDP account and tell party members to pay nomination fees into it,” Wike said.
He emphatically challenged Taminu Turaki, SAN, and other leaders of the rival camp to test their claims by opening a bank account in the name of the PDP.
“Let Turaki, as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, open an account for the PDP. Let them announce it publicly for members who want to contest elections. That day, you will see what will happen,” he stated.
Wike argued that no bank would recognise such an account because the faction allegedly lacks the legally recognised party structure and documentation required to operate.
“That bank will be in trouble because to open such an account, you must provide the party’s authentic documents and recognised leadership. Who has those documents?” he queried.
The former Rivers State governkr also warned against attempts to establish what he described as illegal party offices, vowing that any action capable of causing a breakdown of law and order in Abuja would not be tolerated.
“If anybody goes ahead to open an illegal office in the name of the PDP in Abuja, I will seal it. I will not allow any breach of peace because my duty is to maintain law and order in the Federal Capital Territory,” he said.
Wike maintained that court judgments had already settled the dispute over the PDP leadership and convention issues, accusing some actors of twisting judicial pronouncements for political convenience.
“People should stop deceiving Nigerians. The judgments are clear. You cannot ignore court decisions and begin to create parallel structures,” he added.
The minister further dismissed claims that the Supreme Court ruling favoured the rival faction, insisting that the legal processes and decisions available supported his position and that of the recognised party leadership.
According to him, attempts to misinterpret the judgments outside the established legal context were aimed at confusing party members and the public.
Wike inisisted that he remained a committed member of the PDP and was only defending what he described as constitutional order and due process within the party.
The PDP has remained embroiled in internal leadership disputes following disagreements over the party’s convention, caretaker arrangements and recognition of key national officers ahead of the 2027 general elections.
