Wike, Keyamo, Attack PDP Over Suspension Of Senator Nnamani, Others; Wike Draws Battleline, Mulls Legal Action

By Adesina Soyooye

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike on Saturday, said the battle line with his Party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu,  has been drawn.

Wike said that in reaction to the suspension of former Enugu State Governor, a PDP Senator, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani over brazen anti-party activities.

The ranking Senator, seeking  for a third term under the PDP, was suspended along with eight others, including John Fayose, a son of former Ekiti State Governor,  Ayo Fayose, a Wike ally. Fayose Jnr, is a House of Representatives Candidate.

Their suspension by the Party’s National Working Committee, NWC, was announced in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba after the NWC’s meeting in Abuja.

The statement which, also, announced the dissolution of the Ekiti State Executive Council of the Party, and the set-up of an Interim Committee, said the Party members were suspended, after a long deliberation over anti-party activities.

In a tweet, in reaction to Senator Nnamani’s suspension, Spokesperson for the Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress, Festus Keyamo, SAN, said the action is of no consequence as Nnamani’s candidacy as PDP’s Senatorial Candidate against February 25, 2023, remains valid. Nnamani has, for months, been canvassing openly for a Tinubu victory against his Party’s Candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

But Wike, in his own reaction dismissed the suspension of the members as rubbish, with a threat: “the battle line is fully drawn.”

The Governor spoke Saturday at a Campaign Rally in Khana.

In a direct attack on the National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, Wike said the suspension of the members and the dissolution of the Ekiti State PDP Executive Council, will not save Ayu.

“It will not help you in anyway”, Wike thundered.

He told Ayu and the National Leadership of the Party: “Suspending people will not help you in anyway. The battle line has been fully drawn.

“We will do everything legally possible to challenge  any decision that we know is illegal.

“Don’t think you can threaten people by saying you’re suspended. Rubbish. Rubbish.

“We are above that level that you think you can threaten, intimidate anybody.

“We believe in the rule of law. We believe our party should respect its constitution.

“When a man says you will not sleep, he too will not sleep. We are waiting for you.”

Wike and four other Governors – Samuel Ortom, Benue,  Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu, Seyi Makinde, Oyo – have been at loggerheads with the leadership of the Party, as represented by Ayu and the Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, ever since Atiku defeated Wike at the Presidential Primary to pick the ticket.