The Conference of Professionals in the Peoples Democratic Party (CP-PDP) has called on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to dismiss and investigate the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, over allegations of corruption, abuse of office and actions it claims undermine Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the CP-PDP said the APC should stop “playing to the gallery” by distancing itself from Wike while retaining him in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet. The group argued that Wike’s continued role in the federal government contradicts claims that he is not aligned with the APC.
The group described Wike as a “political vagabond,” alleging that he worked to destabilise the PDP before his expulsion from the party and is now serving the interests of the APC. According to the CP-PDP, Wike is actively involved in the formulation and implementation of APC policies, including fuel and electricity price increases, the floating of the naira and other economic measures it described as anti-people.
The CP-PDP further accused the minister of campaigning for APC candidates and alleged that he was involved in the procurement of judicial pronouncements favourable to the ruling party. It cited a recent remark reportedly made by Wike in Oyigbo, Rivers State, in which he said the APC was enjoying “work” done in its favour in Osun State, a statement the group linked to a recent court judgment that benefited the APC in the state.
The organisation expressed concern over what it described as growing public speculation that some judges are being compromised to issue rulings aimed at destabilising the PDP. It referenced court cases seeking to halt the PDP’s national convention, despite a Supreme Court ruling that party congresses and conventions are internal matters beyond judicial intervention.
Beyond judicial concerns, the CP-PDP also called for an open investigation into alleged financial improprieties in the FCT, including claims of inflated contracts, opaque procurement processes and the alleged looting of public funds. It specifically questioned the reported N39 billion spent on the renovation of the International Conference Centre and accused the FCT administration of failing to comply with due process in public spending.
Signed by the Protem National Coordinator of the CP-PDP, Barrister Obinna Nwachukwu, the group argued that as long as Wike remains in office without investigation, the APC bears responsibility for his actions. It urged the ruling party to either relieve him of his duties or order an independent probe into the allegations against him.