Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has responded to his expulsion from the Peoples Democratic Party with characteristic wit, describing the party's decision as an early commencement of "Detty December" celebrations.
PDP Takes Drastic Action Against Members
The Peoples Democratic Party made a significant move on Saturday by expelling several high-profile members from its ranks. Nyesom Wike, the current FCT Minister and former Rivers State Governor, was among those shown the exit door, alongside former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose and factional Secretary Samuel Anyanwu.
The expulsion decision came during the ongoing PDP National Convention, where members unanimously supported the motion against the trio. The motion was notably moved by one of the party's founding fathers and seconded by a sitting state governor, indicating the weight of the decision within party ranks.
Wike's Colorful Response to Expulsion
In a statement released to the press on Saturday, Wike's camp responded to the expulsion with dismissive humor. Through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, the minister characterized the convention gathering as an early "Detty December" celebration.
"They went to start their own Detty December in November," Wike remarked, suggesting that PDP members had traveled to the convention venue to begin their festivities well ahead of the traditional December celebration period.
The minister's statement went further to imply that the convention attendees were in a celebratory, perhaps intoxicated, state that rendered their decisions and comments unreliable. "When people decide to start their Dirty December early, one can't help but ignore whatever comes out of their mouths," the statement added.
Legal Challenges and Party Division
The expulsion drama unfolded against a backdrop of legal challenges to the convention itself. Multiple court orders had been issued to stop the PDP's gathering, including one issued just the day before the convention.
Several prominent party figures, including a former Senate President, had urged the Damugum-led faction of the PDP to respect the court orders and avoid actions that could potentially implode the party. This context adds another layer of complexity to the expulsion decision and suggests deepening divisions within the opposition party.
Wike's response positions the convention and its decisions as essentially frivolous, characterizing the gathering as primarily social in nature. His statement suggested that after indulging in drinks, attendees were "free to say anything" - implying their expulsion decision should not be taken seriously.
The political fallout from these developments continues to unfold, with the PDP taking firm action against members accused of anti-party activities while those expelled respond with defiance and dismissal.
