Chairman of the Committee, Chief Tom Ikimi explained why the committee cannot summon Wike and others.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Disciplinary Committee has opened up on why it cannot summon some chieftains of the party, like Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, to appear before it.
According to Chairman of the Committee, Chief Tom Ikimi, the likes of Wike were not summoned because the committee’s mandate is limited to addressing petitions filed against party members.
Ikimi said the committee does not act based on allegations on the pages of newspapers.
In a statement he signed, Ikimi said the committee’s jurisdiction is restricted to petitions formally submitted to it.
According to Ikimi: “Whether acts were committed against the party in 2015, 2019, 2020, or any other year, we can do nothing about them except if there are petitions sent to this Committee.”
Ikimi’s remark comes amid calls for disciplinary actions against Wike and other chieftains of PDP over their role in the 2023 presidential election.
Wike was criticized for leading a team of G5 governors who worked against PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the 2023 elections.
Meanwhile, the committee was scheduled to hear petitions against former Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom and National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
However, both individuals failed to appear, citing health challenges and non-receipt of petitions, respectively.
Ikimi disclosed that the committee has evidence that the petitions were served on Ortom and Anyanwu but has decided to defer the hearing to March 4 to ensure everyone receives a fair hearing.
“We believe all will be well, and the committee is going to be fair to everyone,” he assured.