Expulsion of Nyesom Wike from PDP: A Necessary Step for Party Survival, Says Atiku’s Camp

The Director of Research, Strategy, and Documentation for Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 Presidential Campaign, Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki, has underscored the importance of expelling the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as a critical measure for the party’s survival.

In a recent interview with journalists in Abuja, Dr. Obaseki expressed the belief that Wike’s actions, including advocating for the suspension or expulsion of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his consistent criticisms of the party, warrant his removal from the PDP.

Dr. Obaseki pointed out that Wike, formerly the Governor of Rivers State, has played a central role in many of the internal crises within the PDP due to his ambitious pursuit of the party’s presidential nomination. He noted that Wike’s dissatisfaction became apparent with his support for Uche Secondus in the party’s chairmanship race, which culminated in his defeat at the PDP Presidential primaries.

According to Dr. Obaseki, “Wike was (/is) the problem of the PDP, and to expel Wike now is a task that must be done by the PDP.”

In response to Wike’s call for Atiku’s expulsion from the PDP, Dr. Obaseki countered, “The person who deserves to be expelled from the party is the man who is calling for the expulsion of others from the party.” He accused Wike of creating a faction within the party known as the G-5 and campaigning against the party’s interests.

Dr. Obaseki cited several instances where prominent party members left the PDP, with Wike’s actions being a contributing factor. He mentioned figures such as Bello Matawalle, Dave Umahi, and Professor Ben Ayade, who cited Wike as a reason for their departure.

Emphasizing the gravity of the situation, Dr. Obaseki stated, “Wike has crossed the red line, and now, he should be ready. He has all the money to fight us back because we are coming at him like a thousand bricks.”

He dismissed Wike’s claim that he was fighting the party for disregarding its zoning rules, labeling it as “cheap blackmail.” Dr. Obaseki asserted that Wike had been pursuing his political agenda since 2021 and clarified that the PDP had not officially zoned its presidential ticket to the South for the 2023 elections.

According to him, “Wike was fighting a cause that was for himself in an attempt to prepare the ground for his eventual running.”

Dr. Obaseki vowed to pursue the legal battle to reclaim the party’s mandate, currently in the Supreme Court, to its logical conclusion, as he believes Nigerians deserve better leadership.