The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Solidarity Vanguard has blamed former Governor Nyesom Wike for the loss of 25 Rivers State Assembly seats.
The PDP group accused the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister of using Hon. Amaewhule Martins and other ex-PDP lawmakers as cannon fodder in his ill-advised fight with his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
In December, the assembly members loyal to the immediate past governor defected to the All Progressives Congress in the wake of the political impasse involving him and Governor Fubara.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday in Abuja, the executive director of the PDP National Solidarity Vanguard, Hon. Usman Saidu Calculus, said Wike has been working against the party.
“Wike, once a prominent member of our party played a pivotal role in this monumental loss. His actions have cost us dearly, and we cannot remain silent,” the statement said.
The group said, “To the extent that he has weakened the party for the APC, we can no longer consider him a member of our party.
“We must express our anger, disappointment, and resolve to protect the integrity of the PDP. But why did this happen? Why did lawmakers who were elected on our platform abandon their mandates, and throw away twenty-five parliamentary seats in one day?
The group, which lamented Wike’s unchecked ambition, said his financial muscle blinded him to the true essence of leadership.
“Femi Falana (SAN), the legal luminary whose insights we respect, has rightly pointed out that political parties are not mere vehicles for personal gain. They are institutions that serve the collective interest of the citizens. Wike’s actions, driven by hubris and a disregard for due process, have undermined our party’s cohesion and unity.”
The PDP group, therefore, called on the party leadership to take decisive action and expel Wike from the party.