Nyesom Wike, currently serving as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has pointed to ongoing internal disparities and the failure to ensure fair treatment within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the root causes behind the recent wave of defections from the party. These issues, he notes, have been persistent concerns he has repeatedly brought to light.
In a press conference held last Friday in Abuja, Wike emphasized that the exit of numerous PDP governors, senators, and key political figures to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) confirms the political instability he had long predicted-warnings that party leaders chose to disregard.
“I had forewarned about an impending political crisis, but my cautions were largely dismissed,” Wike stated. “The current migration of governors and senators from the PDP to the APC validates my forecast. Consider the recent political shifts in Edo and Bauchi States, where senators have realigned their loyalties. This is exactly the outcome I anticipated if the PDP failed to change course.”
He attributed this surge in defections directly to the PDP’s unwillingness to cultivate authentic internal democracy and to address the deep-seated grievances of its members. Wike reiterated his ongoing calls for the party to stop sidelining its loyal supporters and to ensure transparent processes during congresses and conventions.
“My appeals have been consistent,” he added. “I warned that neglecting these issues would lead to regret, and that is precisely what we are witnessing now. Even during the party’s convention, I noticed manipulations and cautioned that such actions would ultimately be detrimental.”
Having governed Rivers State from 2015 to 2023, Wike was intimately involved in the PDP’s internal struggles leading up to the 2023 general elections. His public disagreements with party officials, particularly over zoning arrangements and the presidential nomination, further exposed the fractures within the party.
He clarified that his criticisms stemmed not from personal disappointment but from a genuine desire to see the PDP reform and sustain its political relevance in Nigeria.
“It is incorrect to suggest that my opposition is born out of bitterness,” Wike responded to claims that his dissent was due to losing the PDP presidential ticket to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in 2022. “My demand has always been for fairness and adherence to due process. When controversies arose, such as those involving the party secretary, I insisted on following proper procedures. Unfortunately, manipulation prevailed, and the party is now facing the consequences.”
Wike warned that the current turmoil within the PDP could have been avoided if its leadership had embraced transparency, inclusiveness, and respect for established protocols. He cautioned that unless these internal conflicts are addressed, defections will persist unabated.
“Ignoring justice inevitably invites consequences,” he observed. “What we are witnessing is not an external punishment but the natural outcome of the party’s own choices.”
As defections continue to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape, Wike’s remarks underscore his transformation from a once loyal party member to one of the most outspoken critics of the PDP’s internal management.