The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has challenged opposing factions within the Peoples Democratic Party to substantiate their leadership claims by setting up an official party bank account and operating a formal secretariat.
His remarks follow renewed tensions between rival blocs, including those aligned with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and the Wike-supported faction, over control of party structures.
The dispute intensified after the Wike-backed PDP rejected what it called an unauthorised National Executive Committee meeting and the announcement of a caretaker committee said to be led by Tanimu Turaki.
That faction maintained that no legitimate NEC meeting took place and insisted that Abdulrahman Mohammed and Senator Samuel Anyanwu are still the duly recognised party officials.
It also pointed to the Supreme Court’s April 30 decision, which voided the Makinde-backed PDP convention in Ibadan that produced the Turaki-led leadership, further escalating the legitimacy battle within the party.
Speaking during a live media session in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike accused certain party figures of misleading the public about who controls the PDP, despite existing court rulings.
He argued that the opposing faction lacks the legal mandate to manage party affairs.
According to him, if they truly hold leadership, they should demonstrate it by opening a PDP account for members to pay nomination fees and carry out official transactions.
“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 also singled out Tanimu Turaki, SAN, and others in the rival group, daring them to publicly establish such a structure.
“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 further questioned whether any bank could legitimately open an account for a political party without proper documentation and court-recognised leadership, saying such an attempt would expose weaknesses in their claims.
He also cautioned against efforts to create parallel PDP offices in Abuja, warning that any action capable of disturbing public order would not be allowed.
The former governor added that any unauthorised party office would be shut down under his authority as FCT Minister.
“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.
“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 dismissed claims that the Supreme Court ruling favoured the rival camp, maintaining that legal decisions support the recognised leadership and that attempts to reinterpret them are meant to confuse party members and the public.
He reaffirmed his loyalty to the PDP, stating that his actions are intended to uphold due process and respect court rulings.
