…Says ADC is still in Big Problem
The Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has ruled out the possibility of welcoming back to the 2023 People’s Democratic Party ( PDP) presidential candidate the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde and others who joined forces with the African Democratic Party ( ADC).
Wike, who on Thursday in Abuja addressed a Press conference, reacting to the Supreme Court’s Judgement on the legal battles of both the PDP and the ADC, described both Atiku and Makinde as “ political liabilities” that will not add any value to the PDP.
However, the Minister noted that while the PDP will welcome back certain people, especially those who left because to other parties where INEC forms could be signed, the curtains are permanently closed against those who plotted to destroy the party.
He said, ”I see that my brothers and friends, including Seyi Makinde, are currently holding a coalition meeting. We are not part of that; we are the main opposition party. I do not know where they are heading now, especially with the judgment against the ADC. The Federal High Court yesterday ruled that their actions would not be recognised. Their hopes are dashed.
“ Regarding those who left our party for the ADC, people like Atiku Abubakar, we do not want them back. They are not ‘natural assets’; they are ‘natural liabilities.’
While some people left simply because they were unsure of the party’s direction or who would sign their INEC forms, those ones may return.
However, those who intended to bring the PDP down from the beginning will not be welcomed back.”
Constructive Opposition
”Our party is the main opposition, but we do not practice ‘opposition for opposition’s sake.’ Our approach is constructive. We will not work with the Atiku group to form a broad-based opposition.
“Opposition should call the ruling party to account, not destroy the country. If you destroy the country, nothing moves forward.”
Legal Implications for the ADC”, he added.
Wike also dismissed the insinuation that the Supreme Court affirmed the suspension of the PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, saying there was no such issue for determination before the court.
“Today, the Supreme Court has brought to an end the so-called factions of the PDP. There is no more faction in the party. There is only one PDP,” he said.
The minister explained that the court dismissed appeals challenging earlier judgments from lower courts, thereby upholding the legitimacy of the party’s convention and its current leadership.
According to him, attempts by aggrieved groups to overturn the outcome of the convention failed at all judicial levels.
“The Supreme Court has validated our convention and set aside all claims to any parallel structure. What this means is that the PDP has come to stay as one united party,” Wike stated.
