The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is deliberating on actions to be taken against several prominent members who have supported the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that these actions contradict the party policies.
It has been gathered that the PDP is considering the expulsion of key members belonging to the “G-5” group, which comprises governors who were elected under the PDP’s banner but did not back the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the presidential election held on February 25, 2023.
Notably, Nyesom Wike, the former governor of Rivers State, and Samuel Ortom, an ex-governor of Benue State, are facing the possibility of expulsion due to their associations with Tinubu and the APC.
The PDP views this as a grave violation of party loyalty.
This newspaper learnt that PDP has warned that if these former governors accept any appointments from President Tinubu and the APC, they will be immediately expelled from the party.
As for the remaining “G-5” members, their fate remains uncertain.
Seyi Makinde of Oyo State remains within the PDP’s ranks, while the former governors of Abia and Enugu states, Okezie Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, appear politically adrift following their unsuccessful bids for the Senate.
While the PDP has cautioned its members about the consequences of joining the APC-led government, the party has also stated that the ruling party has not approached it for any potential collaboration.
Nyesom Wike has consistently criticised the PDP for its failure to allocate the 2023 presidential ticket to the South after eight consecutive years in the North.
Recall that a previous ruling by the Federal High Court in May 2023 has confirmed the party’s authority to suspend or expel any member, including Wike if such actions are in line with the law. This judgment further reinforces the PDP’s intentions.
Justice James Omotosho, in his ruling, emphasised that the suspension or expulsion of a member must be carried out in accordance with the party’s regulations, ensuring that the accused member’s right to a fair defence is not violated.
