According to Capt Tunji Shelle, the former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, the suspension or expulsion of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, from the PDP has remained difficult due to certain factors.
In an interview discussing the political situation in Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole, Shelle explained that while the PDP is actively working towards reconciliation and unity in preparation for upcoming elections, there are individuals within the party, including some in the National Working Committee (NWC), who are still aligned with the former Rivers State governor.
This alignment makes it challenging to take action against Wike, despite clear evidence of his deviation from the party’s principles.
Shelle accused the minister of collaborating with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to undermine the PDP, particularly in Rivers State where the party holds significant influence. He emphasized the difficulty of reconciling a party when influential figures like Wike are straddling both the PDP and APC, and still exerting influence over party members and the NWC.
APC is engaging in destructive actions by planting bombs within another political party, indicating that there may be individuals within the PDP who have compromised their loyalty. It is evident that some individuals are collaborating with APC even from within the PDP.
However, until a decision is made to suspend or expel these individuals from the party, no progress can be made. Nevertheless, there are already efforts underway to address this issue.
The Federal Capital Territory Minister should focus on his own jurisdiction and refrain from interfering in the governance of another state, as just because someone has done so in their own state does not mean they can replicate it in Rivers.
The situation is being closely monitored, and its implications for Nigeria will become apparent.
The PDP leader attributes part of the party’s crisis to the emergence of the enlarged Labour Party, which has created additional challenges. However, he believes that if the LP and PDP can unite, they will be better equipped to counter the APC’s influence.
