The Senate’s Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Lere Oyewumi, has said that despite calls for sanction against him, Nyesom Wike is still a leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Oyewumi made the statement in Ikire, Osun state, on Saturday, saying that what was happening between Wike and the PDP was the effect of the aftermath of the general election.

He said that such incidents were not restricted to the PDP, citing the recent suspension of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the removal of the National Chairman and National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Oyewumi said that the PDP was handling the situation with Wike very well and that he was confident that the party would emerge stronger in the next one year.

He said, “Nyesom Wike is one of our prominent leaders. He did wonderfully well in Rivers State during the last general election. His successor is one of the PDP governors who has never missed any PDP programme.

“This problem is not a PDP issue alone, a few days ago, some people suspended Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso from NNPP. Some of his own people also suspended those who suspended him.

“Look at what happened to the National Chairman and the National Secretary of APC that produced the President, they were removed almost immediately after the swearing-in of the President

“So, the issue is in all the parties. After you go for the general election, there will be some turbulences. It’s like when a plane takes off or lands; you have to fasten your belt. This is the period for fastening belts for political parties but after the next one year, everything will subside again.

“Wike may have some issues that he is reacting to but I’m sure the party leadership are handling it very well”.