The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday challenged rival factions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to open an official party bank account and secretariat if they truly believe they control the party’s structure.
Speaking during a live media chat with journalists in Abuja, Wike accused some party leaders of misleading Nigerians and disregarding court judgements in the ongoing leadership crisis within the PDP.
The former Rivers State Governor maintained that the faction opposing the recognised leadership lacked legal standing and could not lawfully conduct 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 specifically challenged Taminu Turaki, SAN, and other leaders of the rival group 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 commercial bank would recognise such an account, insisting that the faction lacks the legally recognised party structure and required documentation.
“That bank will be in trouble because, to open such an account, you must provide authentic party documents and recognised leadership. Who has those documents?” he queried.
The FCT Minister also warned against attempts to establish what he described as illegal party offices, vowing to take action against any move that could disrupt peace in the Federal Capital Territory.
“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 FCT,” he said.
Wike maintained that court judgements had already resolved the dispute over the PDP leadership and convention matters, accusing some actors of misinterpreting judicial decisions for political purposes.
“People should stop deceiving Nigerians. The judgements are clear. You cannot ignore court decisions and begin to create parallel structures,” he said.
He further dismissed claims that Supreme Court rulings favoured the rival faction, insisting that existing legal pronouncements support the recognised leadership of the party.
According to him, attempts to reinterpret the judgements were aimed at confusing party members and the public.
Wike said he remains a committed member of the PDP and is only defending constitutional order and due process within the party.
The PDP has continued to grapple with internal leadership disputes following disagreements over its convention, caretaker arrangements, and recognition of national officers ahead of the 2027 general elections.
