The Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Damagum, has expressed frustration over the continued membership of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in the party, citing his destabilizing influence.
Speaking in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Saturday, Damagum revealed that he and others had previously urged the party’s reconciliation committee to expel Wike and his loyalists due to their divisive roles. However, the committee, led by former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, ignored the advice despite receiving around 40 petitions calling for disciplinary action.
“The committee received over 40 petitions, most of which were serious enough to warrant expulsion. But only one petition that of the National Secretary — was acted upon,” Damagum said. “Had they taken decisive action, we might not be in the situation we are in today.”
Damagum criticized the committee’s failure to act, attributing it to undisclosed personal relationships with Wike. “Many of them had longstanding ties with him and were beneficiaries of his generosity. I came into the picture when their relationship had deteriorated, and now I’m being blamed.”
He emphasized that Wike’s disruptive intentions were clear even before the 2023 elections. At the time, Wike — then Governor of Rivers State — led the G-5 group, a coalition of five PDP governors who opposed the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and contributed to internal strife within the party.
The G-5 governors included Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and Samuel Ortom (Benue). Their actions deepened internal divisions and led to a wave of defections within the PDP.
“We had suggested their expulsion before the elections, but nothing was done. Now the damage has been done, and people want me to expel Wike. But I want peace. If we keep expelling people without resolving issues, we may one day find ourselves without a party,” Damagum warned.
