Renowned constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Professor Itse Sagay, has dismissed the Nyesom Wike-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a “fake” entity created solely to dismantle the opposition party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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In an exclusive interview with independent, Sagay who previously chaired Nigeria’s Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) under former President Muhammadu Buhari described the Wike group as an “insider worm” intent on devouring the PDP from within.
“It’s obvious to anybody who has any sense of right and wrong that the Nyesom Wike faction is a fake faction. It is there to destroy the PDP,” Sagay asserted. “Wike is not in the PDP; he’s an insider worm that wants to eat its own party and destroy it. It’s like a disease inside a person’s body. You don’t say the disease is the person. No. The disease is what’s trying to destroy the person.”
Sagay identified the authentic PDP leadership as including Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, and elder statesman Chief Bode George. He predicted that the rival factions would soon clash in court and before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over legitimacy, but insisted that the Wike group has no genuine claim.
The PDP’s internal divisions have deepened following the defection of several key political office holders to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), leaving the once-dominant opposition party in disarray.
Sagay also commented on other national issues, beginning with a recent public spat involving First Lady Oluremi Tinubu and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke. During an event, the First Lady reportedly threatened to cut off Adeleke’s microphone mid-speech an action Sagay labelled “very embarrassing.”
“It was a very unfortunate incident. I think the First Lady should have exercised some patience. You don’t allow things like that to happen in public,” he said. “Adeleke is the head of that government. He deserves some respect. For someone in such a high and delicate position, she shouldn’t have created such an embarrassing situation. I think she was wrong.”
Responding to calls to scrap the unelected role of First Lady because it has no constitutional backing, Sagay defended its informal value.
“The position is important because it brings in the informal aspects of power and makes power more presentable and more acceptable to the public,” he explained. However, he stressed the need for “a lot of discretion” in exercising such influence, which he said was lacking in the Adeleke episode.
Turning to security matters, Sagay endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s decision to deploy troops to neighbouring Benin Republic without prior National Assembly approval—despite constitutional requirements. The move, later ratified by lawmakers, came amid political instability in the West African nation.
“Yes, the same Constitution allows him to do that, but immediately after, he must seek covering approval, which I think he has done,” Sagay noted. “These situations do not permit waste of time.”
He highlighted Nigeria’s informal “responsibility” toward Benin Republic once jokingly referred to as the “37th state of Nigeria” by a former Beninese leader and argued that the deployment helped prevent spillover threats.
Addressing sovereignty concerns especially after Nigeria previously rebuffed U.S. offers to intervene against terrorists Sagay clarified that Benin’s invitation removed any constitutional or international-law issues.
“We were invited by the Benin Republic president. Their president asked us to come in. So the issue of sovereignty does not arise because it was done with the invitation and consent of the host country,” he said.
He contrasted this with an uninvited U.S. Navy SEAL operation in Nigeria years ago to rescue an American hostage, which he described as a “non-aggressive” but still unauthorized action under international law.
On the recent safe return of abducted Kaduna schoolgirls, Sagay expressed relief but addressed public speculation over whether ransom was paid. He admitted he would prioritize children’s safety over strict no-negotiation policies.
“It’s a very difficult situation and I sympathise with the government,” he said. “If the government is faced with having to negotiate and successfully bring back the children, I think out of sympathy I support them.”
However, he criticised the government for not being transparent.
“What I blame them for is not admitting that they negotiated. I think they should admit that. And nobody will really raise an eyebrow.”
To counter fears that ransom payments fuel banditry and turn kidnappings into a “multimillion-naira business,” Sagay recommended a two-step strategy: secure the victims’ release first, then launch uncompromising military operations.
“Negotiate, ensure the children are safely released and then go after them with fury,” he advised. “By negotiating, you have an idea of where they are. So bring all the children back safely, then go after them with all the force at your disposal.”
On Nigeria’s persistent insecurity, Sagay decried the presence of “moles” within the security architecture, citing the shocking ambush and killing of a general as proof of internal sabotage.
“How can a general not have any soldiers around him? How was he isolated and alone, to be killed like a chicken?” he asked. “We have a lot of internal problems within our security system which the government must investigate and resolve.”
He called for “internal cleansing” to remove insiders leaking intelligence. “You cannot succeed if some of the people you are working with are in fact your enemies. We really have to root them out first before we can be effective.”
Sagay praised the appointment of retired General Christopher Musa as Minister of Defence, calling it “a wonderful move.”
“He has the record, the determination, and the character. He’s a fantastic man,” Sagay said, citing Musa’s directive to troops: “Do not wait for an order. Once you see a terrorist, shoot him. Once you see a kidnapper, shoot him.”
The professor expressed optimism: “I thank God for his appointment. We are going to see a difference. I just pray he makes a difference.”
Asked to compare the current Tinubu administration with Buhari’s amid public complaints of worsening conditions Sagay declined.
“I won’t comment on this. Absolutely not. Let Nigerians be the judge, not me,” he concluded.
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