The Northern Professionals Movement and the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) Elders Support Group have called for the suspension of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike for alleged anti-party activities.
In a statement jointly released by the two groups ahead of the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 18, 2024, in Abuja, they accused Abubakar and Wike of abandoning the party following the 2023 general elections, which they view as detrimental to the party’s interests.
In addition to demanding the suspension of both individuals, the groups also expressed their support for the current party leadership, particularly Acting Chairman Usman Iliya Damagum. They dismissed calls for Damagum’s removal amidst ongoing legal proceedings involving the suspended chairman Iyorcha Ayu.
Leaders of the two groups, Mr. Isaac Samuel and Dr. Muazzam Lawal Sadauki in a joint statement described the alleged attacks on Damagum and the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) by some youths as “unfortunate”.
The groups call upon the leadership of the Board of Trustees (BoT) and the PDP Governors Forum to intervene urgently in the escalating political crisis, advocating for decisive action to restore order and coherence within the party.
“Despite all the sacrifices made by the NWC of the party during and after the 2023 general elections and subsequent activities of the party in the country, some restless and uncultured people were paid to write and rubbish our leaders,” the group said.
“These are coming up because of the interest of some individuals who are eager to control the soul of our party unconstitutionally. These include people who have abandoned the party several times after the general elections.
“The task before the party leaders now is to identify the grey areas with the intention to address such and then return the desired peace and unity to the PDP.
“We disagree with any plans to change the leadership of the party at the moment as our party is in dire need of cohesion to stabilize itself from unforeseen challenges.
“We are calling on the BoT and PDP Governors Forum to act decisively along with the NWC of the party to sanction or suspend both Atiku Abubakar and Nyesom Wike from attending any activities of the party to restore sanity and political stability in the party.
“The duo of Atiku and Wike are being accused of supporting some groups of people that are habitually and desperately castigating and insulting the party’s leadership through different platforms for their political interests thereby threatening the unity and survival of our great party.
“While we call for restraint from all other loyal and disciplined members of the PDP family; strict measures should be put in place by the NWC of the party against those who actively supported or played major roles in the defeat of our candidates in the past general elections.”
