Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has weighed in on the escalating crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring that the party must put an end to impunity.
The internal turmoil deepened on Saturday when a faction aligned with Wike announced the suspension of the PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagum.
The faction is led by embattled National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu—who had earlier been suspended by the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) after an emergency meeting.
Just hours after his suspension, Anyanwu convened a press conference where he declared Damagum and five other NWC members suspended. Those affected include:
Debo Ologunagba – National Publicity Secretary
Taofeek Arapaja – Deputy National Chairman (South)
Daniel Woyengikoro – National Financial Secretary
Sulaiman Kadade – National Youth Leader
Setonji Koshoedo – Deputy National Secretary
Wike, appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today, openly backed Damagum’s suspension, insisting that the PDP must no longer tolerate internal lawlessness.
“We cannot continue to allow impunity,” he said.
The minister also criticized unnamed governors for allegedly channeling public funds into fueling crises within the PDP instead of using those resources to develop their states.
Though he avoided naming specific governors or states, Wike accused some leaders of misusing the significant federal allocations they now receive.
“The problem we are having today in the PDP is that the kind of money in the hands of the governors is so much,” Wike said. “I praised the President for allowing so much money in the hands of states—something that has never happened before.”
He added that it was disappointing to see some governors deploy public funds to destabilize the very party that elevated them politically.
“I thought this money would be used for the development of our states—not to scatter a party that built you and gave you your name. Where are we today?” he asked.