The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has challenged a rival faction within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to prove its claim to leadership by opening an official party bank account and secretariat.
Wike issued the challenge on Wednesday during a live media chat with journalists in Abuja, accusing some party leaders of misleading Nigerians and ignoring court rulings in the ongoing crisis.
“You cannot continue to deceive Nigerians. If they are sure they are the authentic leadership of the PDP, let them open an official PDP account and tell party members to pay nomination fees into it,” he said.
The former Rivers State governor specifically called out Taminu Turaki and others in the opposing camp to back their claims with action.
“Let Turaki, as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, open an account for the PDP. Let them announce it publicly for members who want to contest elections. That day, you will see what will happen,” Wike added.
He argued that no financial institution would recognise such an account because, according to him, the faction lacks the legal backing and required party documents.
“That bank will be in trouble because to open such an account, you must provide the party’s authentic documents and recognised leadership. Who has those documents?” he queried.
Wike also warned against any attempt to establish what he described as illegal party offices in the capital city, stressing that he would not allow any action that could disrupt peace.
“If anybody goes ahead to open an illegal office in the name of the PDP in Abuja, I will seal it. I will not allow any breach of peace because my duty is to maintain law and order in the Federal Capital Territory,” he said.
The minister maintained that court judgments had already resolved the leadership dispute and accused some actors of twisting the rulings for political convenience.
“People should stop deceiving Nigerians. The judgments are clear. You cannot ignore court decisions and begin to create parallel structures,” he said.
He also dismissed claims that a Supreme Court ruling favoured the rival faction, insisting that available legal decisions support the recognised leadership of the party.
According to him, attempts to reinterpret the rulings outside their proper context are meant to confuse party members and the public.
Wike said he remains a committed member of the PDP and is only defending what he described as constitutional order within the party.
