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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has called on factions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) linked to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and former minister Tanimu Turaki to stop what he termed “fraudulent politics” and obey court rulings.
Speaking during a media chat in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike accused the groups of trying to create an illegal leadership structure within the party.
“When will people stop being fraudulent? You cannot disobey court judgments and then turn around to deceive Nigerians that you have a legitimate structure. That is not how democracy works,” Wike said.
Wike dismissed claims of any interim or caretaker arrangement in the party, insisting that only a court-recognised leadership could legitimately manage PDP affairs pending a lawful convention.
“You don’t form a leadership in your bedroom and call it a national structure. Let them open an office anywhere and call it PDP secretariat I dare them. That is how you know what is real and what is not,” he said.
Wike accused those behind the alleged caretaker arrangement of misleading party members and the public despite what he said was judicial clarity on the matter.
“The court has made it clear who should run the affairs of the party pending a lawful convention. You cannot ignore that and start setting up another structure. That is fraud 419,” he added.
He questioned how the faction could sell nomination forms without a recognised secretariat.
“You have refused to tell the public what is on ground, and you are coming out to say ‘we are setting up a caretaker committee’, how? And you are deceiving people that you want to sell form.
“I dare them, let me see an office you will name PDP national secretariat. If you say you are a party, go and put a sign ‘PDP national secretariat’ just as we are occupying Wadata, that is where everybody knows as the PDP national secretariat.
“If you are saying that you want to sell form, to whom? You will submit it where? Is that not fraud? You went to court, we didn’t go to court, and the court gave judgment against you.
“You have not set aside that judgement and you are now coming to deceive people by setting up a caretaker committee, and begin to sell forms. Is that not fraud? What is 419?” Wike said.
The FCT minister’s comments come after a faction of the PDP National Executive Committee, backed by Governor Makinde, on Monday ratified the appointment of a 13-member caretaker committee headed by Turaki as chairman.
