The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has explained why the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has not been sanctioned for alleged anti-party activities.
The party recently revealed that no action can be taken against Wike without a formal petition supported by proof.
Speaking during an interview in Abuja, PDP Deputy National Legal Adviser, Barrister Okechukwu Osuoha, disclosed that while the party has established a disciplinary committee, no member has been prosecuted or punished thus far because no formal petitions have been submitted.
According to him, it is not enough for people to just say Wike has committed an offence; proper evidence must be presented to back up the accusation for it to be addressed.
He stated that no matter their position, anyone caught indulging in anti-party activities will be duly punished.
“At our NEC meeting, we set up a disciplinary committee headed by Chief Tom Ikimi, an elder statesman, with Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) as secretary. They were mandated to address any infraction or anti-party activity by any member of the party, no matter their position, and to bring such persons to book.
“But up until today, no one has been prosecuted or sanctioned. People often ask me specifically about the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike — why don’t we discipline him, why don’t we take action? I tell them it is not enough to merely say someone has committed an offence. A formal petition has to be submitted to the disciplinary committee,” he said.
Barrister Okechukwu further noted that whoever presents a petition must also be ready to testify when called upon.
He concluded by saying that the difficulty in concluding disciplinary cases is a wider issue with the Nigerian system, and not peculiar to the PDP.
“When that petition is written and presented, the petitioner must also be ready to come and testify. If the person accused is invited, you must come with your evidence. It is not enough to make general allegations.
This is the same problem with our wider Nigerian system. It is not just about pointing out anomalies; the challenge is following them up to a conclusion,” he added.
