By Deborah Nnamdi
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has warned that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stands no chance of winning the 2027 elections unless it addresses its internal rifts and puts aside self-serving interests.
Wike, a former Rivers State governor and influential PDP stalwart, made the remarks during his monthly media briefing in Abuja on Monday.
He voiced serious concern over what he called the party’s self-inflicted crises and the failure of its leadership.
“Leadership is key; if you don’t show the right leadership, you will suffer for i,t, and this is what I have been saying,” Wike stated, lamenting what he perceives as a vacuum of strategic direction in the party.
“When people talk about the governor of Delta State and his predecessor moving out of PDP to APC, what wrong did he do? That he said he was going to support Tinubu, that was the crime.”
“But the Chairman of the BoT, who is the conscience of the party, adopted Otti for a second tenure. Why are people not commenting about that?
The Chairman of PDP BoT adopted Alex Otti, governor under the Labour Party, for a second tenure.
“No opposition party allows impunity, it’s only the ruling party. Opposition is going to organize itself to take over the affairs of government.
How many times have they made efforts? How many people have you wooed? Rather, they are after Wike; they abandoned what they are supposed to do – the only crime is that Wike is a minister under the APC government.
“I’m the only former governor who did not support the presidential candidate but made sure PDP won 100 percent in the governorship, State Assembly, and National Assembly.
Let any sitting governor or former governor come out to say that happened in their states.
“If PDP doesn’t take care, watch out for what will happen because selfish interest can kill an organization. You haven’t won an election but you are excluding people.”
Wike ended with a foreboding note, suggesting that the same miscalculations that cost the PDP dearly in 2023 are being repeated.
“You want to play the same game you played in 2023, it will backfire. I have told people that this smartness will not help you. Wike is telling you now to stop this smartness.”
