Contrary to the claim by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ibrahim Abdullahi, that the Chief Tom Ikimi-led Disciplinary Committee has invited former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, to appear before it over allegation of anti-party activities, Sunday Telegraph can confirm that no petition is before the committee at the moment. Abdullahi, at a television programme about two weeks ago in Abuja, claimed that Wike and other party members he did not mention, had been summoned by the Ikimi committee to appear before it for alleged anti-party activities.

“We’ve been receiving petitions regarding anti-party activities or sabotaging the party throughout the primaries, leading to where we are now. “These petitions against Wike and other party members have been aggregated and sent to the committee,” Abdullahi further claimed. One of the former governors speculated to be among those summoned by the committee, told Sunday Telegraph that he was yet to receive any invitation from the committee. “Nobody has invited me, and I don’t think anybody has been invited by the committee,” he said.

Ikimi’s committee was inaugurated on August 21 by the PDP leadership, to receive petition and discipline party members accused of engaging in anti-party activities contrary to the PDP constitution. Party sources told the reporter that the committee has not even held its inaugural meeting, stating that at the moment, the Chairman of the committee is occupied with this weekend’s Edo governorship election. He attributed the rumoured invitation to anti-Wike group, who would want to see him punished by the party.

The former Foreign Affairs Minister is from Edo State. But instead of sending a petition to the committee, Kogi State chapter of party, set up its own committee that tried and suspended former candidate of the party in last year’s governorship election in the state, Senator Dino Melaye, for anti-party activities. Melaye’s ward, Ayetoro/ lluagba ward 1, in a memo dated September 12, told him that his suspension was based on the report of the disciplinary committee set up to investigate alleged anti party activities against him. Ikimi’s committee was inaugurated on August 21, while the ward executive committee set up disciplinary committee against Senator Melaye on August 25.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, told journalists that the National Working Committee (NWC) don’t dictate to the committee, persons it would summon to appear before it. According to Ologunagba, the committee has its terms of reference and was given the mandate to do its jobs.

“We have given them terms of reference. We know they are men of quality (and) integrity. And in their wisdom, the committee can invite anybody who is a member of this party. “Then, they can make recommendations on their report to the NWC, which, of course, we consider. And then we can send to NEC for approval or amendment,” he stated.