Group Calls Atiku to Drop Presidential Ambition, Demands Sanction For Wike

Ahead of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, a group, the PDP Loyal Group 100 percent,  has called on Atiku Abubakar to sacrifice his 2027 Presidential ambition.

Dennis Shima, the group’s chairman and national coordinator, made this statement on Tuesday while speaking to reporters in Abuja. 

The group said that if the parties involved do this, there will be lasting peace in the party. It added that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, should be sanctioned for anti-party activities.

The group recommended that although the party should use the authority granted to NEC to punish Wike and other individuals whose actions have proven harmful to the party’s stability, Atiku should behave like a statesman, renounce his goal to be president in 2027, and back one of his mentees for the PDP ticket.

After the PDP lost the 2015 presidential general election due to internal strife, an interest group supporting the party emerged with the express purpose of addressing the political difficulties and intimidation that PDP supporters in Nigeria were subjected to. 

After extensive discussions and multiple sessions, Shima said the group decided to recommend a plausible cause of action for the party prior to the NEC meeting.

He said, “We also consulted widely across Nigeria and resorted to call on PDP National Caucus, Board of Trustees BOT and most importantly NEC to do the following in accordance with the provisions of PDP Constitution (As amended 2017) without prejudices thus: “Advise, His Excellency Alh. Atiku Abubakar GCON, former Vice President of Nigeria (1999 to 2007), PDP 2019 Presidential Candidate and 2023 Presidential Candidate to stop further contest for PDP Presidential Tickets beginning from 2027. And further, request His Excellency Alh Atiku Abubakar GCON to support one of his many mentees across Nigeria to  contest for PDP Presidential Tickets beginning from 2027.

“We call on, His Excellency Alh Atiku Abubakar GCON, to nominate and support, any of his many mentees from the appropriate geo-political Zone for 2027 presidential election.

“We also call on, His Excellency Alh Atiku Abubakar GCON, to appreciate God for his wealth of experience and mentorship in Nigerian democracy under PDP since 1999 to date.

“Therefore, accept this clarion call for him to be a statesman and kingmaker politically going forward. We are optimistic that, His Excellency, Alh Atiku Abubakar GCON, former Vice President of Nigeria, and two times PDP presidential candidate, is not an ingrate and will be grateful to God and PDP, for the platform provided for him, to serve Nigerians in the aforementioned capacities.

“We are optimistic that, if His Excellency Alh Atiku Abubakar GCON, accepts his fate going forward as a, father, husband, mentor and statesman in PDP and by extension Nigerian democracy, PDP will win the forthcoming 2027 presidential general election in Nigeria landslide without many political battles as recently faced from prominent figures in Nigeria who are against the person of His Excellency Alh Atiku Abubakar GCON former Vice President of Nigeria.”

The group further said, “Secondly, we call on the forthcoming PDP National Executive    Committee NEC to exercise its power and authority inline with provisions of PDP Constitution regarding; offenses and sanctions, as contained in Section 58(1) a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, I, l, and m.  And also Section 59(1) a, b, c, d, e, f, and g, as well as Subsection (2), (3), (4), and (5) to “suspend” His Excellency Barr. Nyesom Wike CON, former Governor of Rivers State from  participating in meetings or functions, of PDP at all levels at home and abroad, directly or indirectly.

“Considering the fact that, the deviant PDP stalwart obtained a Court Order restraining PDP from expelling him from the party, we jettison the option of expulsion from the PDP, which would have been appropriate sanction to him.

“This is because of former Governor Wike’s  present role as Federal Minister and responsibilities in APC led Federal Government, which is alien to the character and ethics of PDP and also violates, the Constitution of our great party as given in the above sections 58, 59 and subsections (as amended 2017) without prejudices to the personality of the former Governor of Rivers state Mr. Nyesom Wike until the day he officially leaves the Pay Roll of APC led Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. After all, PDP receives returnees into its membership.”

Speaking further, the group said, “In 2016, PDP100% in collaboration with His Excellency Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi- led National Caretaker Committee to rebrand PDP to be what ought to be ahead of future elections beginning from 2019, we mobilized like minds across Nigeria to uphold the vision and mission of PDP in Nigeria with our motto “100% Loyalty Pays”. 

“We stood by Senator Makarfi- led Caretaker committee to legally dislodge former Governor Ali Modu Sheriff who was appointed PDP National Chairman in 2016 and later became a thorn in the PDP flesh up to Supreme Court and PDP won.

“We contributed to rebranding of PDP during the 2017 PDP National Elective Convention in various capacities including publicity subcommittee with our sweats