Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has challenged the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to open an official bank account or establish a national secretariat in Abuja if it truly believes it is the legitimate leadership of the party.
Wike warned that any bank facilitating such an account or any property used as an illegal PDP secretariat would face sanctions, including possible closure by authorities in the FCT.
The minister’s comments followed the Supreme Court judgment affirming the cancellation of the Ibadan PDP convention organised by the faction reportedly backed by Seyi Makinde. Despite the ruling, the group has continued to operate, with Tanimu Turaki leading its activities and calling for the purchase of nomination forms ahead of planned party primaries.
Speaking during a media chat in Abuja, Wike described the faction’s actions as fraudulent and a deliberate attempt to mislead party members and Nigerians.
“There is no room for fraud. If they sell forms, to whom will the forms be submitted?” Wike queried, noting that the faction lacked recognition from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The minister insisted that no financial institution would legally open an account for the faction because it does not possess the authentic party documents or recognised leadership structure required for banking procedures.
“Any bank that opens an account for them will be in trouble because to open such an account, you must provide the party’s authentic documents and recognised leadership,” he said.
Wike further warned Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), that he risked losing his prestigious legal title if he proceeded with plans to open an account or secretariat for the faction.
“Let Turaki, as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, open an account for the PDP. Let them announce it publicly. That day, you will see what will happen. He will lose his silk,” Wike declared.
The FCT minister also threatened to seal any office operating illegally in Abuja under the PDP name, saying his responsibility was to maintain law and order in the nation’s capital.
“If anybody goes ahead to open an illegal office in the name of the PDP in Abuja, I will seal it,” he said.
Reacting to the threats, the Turaki-led group dismissed Wike’s remarks as “full of sound and fury,” accusing him of political intimidation and opportunism.
In a statement issued by the faction’s spokesman, Ini Ememobong, the group vowed to continue its activities, including the sale of nomination forms, primaries, and preparations for a national convention aimed at producing candidates for the next general election.
Beyond the PDP leadership crisis, Wike also criticised Siminalayi Fubara, accusing the Rivers governor of prioritising his second-term ambition over governance.
Wike expressed concern that Fubara had yet to present a budget to the Rivers State House of Assembly, warning that the delay could affect governance and service delivery in the state.
The minister also took aim at Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, dismissing ongoing opposition coalition talks ahead of future elections.
According to Wike, Atiku left the PDP because he could no longer secure the party’s presidential ticket, while Obi was searching for a political platform where “food is ready.”
Despite backing President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election, Wike maintained that he remains a loyal PDP member, noting that the party still won key elections in Rivers State during the polls.
He also defended the FCT Administration’s crackdown on undeveloped and abandoned structures around Jabi Lake in Abuja, insisting that all actions were in line with the Abuja Masterplan and aimed at preventing the area from degenerating into shanties.
