I challenge anyone to come forward and say they have contributed more than I have. Who has the courage to tell me I am no longer a member? Who is that person?
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has responded forcefully to calls for his expulsion from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), asserting that no individual within the party has the authority or moral standing to revoke his membership. Wike made this declaration during a media interaction held on Monday in Abuja.
“I remain a member of the PDP. I have worked tirelessly for this party and sacrificed more than many others,” he emphasized. “I challenge anyone to come forward and say they have contributed more than I have. Who has the courage to tell me I am no longer a member? Who is that person, and what have they done for the party compared to me?” Wike questioned.
His remarks come in the wake of renewed criticism from party stakeholders, most notably from former Foreign Affairs Minister and PDP stalwart, Sule Lamido.
IREPORT247NEWS had reported that Lamido, who also serves on the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), has been vocal in his demands for the expulsion of both Wike and former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom. He insists they be sanctioned for allegedly working against the party’s interests during the 2023 general elections.
As part of his protest, Lamido was conspicuously absent from the PDP’s 99th NEC meeting held on Tuesday, May 27, at the party’s National Secretariat, Legacy House in Abuja. His absence was widely interpreted as a deliberate boycott to express discontent with the party’s perceived leniency toward individuals he considers disloyal.
While both Wike and PDP National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu were missing from the crucial meeting, Samuel Ortom was present. Ortom, who has recently been appointed to the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), attended the session clad in his signature Tiv cap and white kaftan. He arrived alongside the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Bala Muhammad, signaling his continued involvement in party affairs despite the controversy.
Lamido’s criticisms have been scathing. He accused Wike of betrayal, alleging that the FCT minister turned his back on the same political platform that played a significant role in his rise to national prominence.
According to Lamido, both Wike and Ortom have engaged in actions that have weakened party cohesion and undermined its performance, particularly during the last election cycle.
Amid these tensions, Wike’s defiance signals his unwillingness to be sidelined or discredited, reiterating his commitment to the PDP while simultaneously challenging his detractors to match his contributions and political legacy.
READ MORE: Lamido Boycotts PDP Meetings, Demands Wike, Ortom’s Expulsion