Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has advised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, warning that the party risks repeating the same errors that led to its defeat in the 2023 general election.
The FCT Minister made this statement during a media parley in Abuja on Monday, where he also reaffirmed his commitment to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but insisted that he will not tolerate injustice within the party.
Wike said that the PDP’s refusal to honour its own zoning principles ahead of the 2023 polls created deep internal fractures and ultimately cost it the presidency.
He explained, “In 2023, we told the party, look, it is in our constitution, it’s in our tradition. When these people take chairman, you people will go for presidential candidate. Because of selfish interests, they manipulated the system. They said no, we shouldn’t do zoning now. Hold on, we will do zoning. Before we know, some people have gone to buy form, and we laughed. It’s okay, they don’t want to do zoning.
“Now, a zone took chairman of the party. A zone took the presidential candidate. We said okay, for peace to reign, so we can have a voice. They will go front and back.
“We said this front and back you are doing, it will cost you something. Of course, arrogance came in. Forget, we have won the election. Who are they? See where we are.”
Wike then added, “Nigeria today, the South is occupying the presidency. Why not as a party come out openly now, our presidential candidate will also come from the South? Now, you don’t want to do that. You want to play the same game you played in 2023. It will backfire. And when it backfires, they’ll say oh, these people did this, these people did that. It will backfire. And I told people, this madness don’t help you. Come out now, and let everybody know this is where we’re heading to.”
Wike then, addressing ongoing controversies surrounding his stance and recent defections from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), said that he is not going to leave the PDP.
“I don’t want to leave the party, but I came out to say, this injustice will not stand. I will not support this,” Wike stated emphatically.
When asked whether his actions were tearing the PDP apart, Wike responded, “No. I’m doing it. If you obey the constitution.”
He elaborated, saying, “If you obey the constitution of the party. Okay, take an example. You are the chair of a national party. I don’t see how any right-thinking person, something that you do that can make the party to die. Something you know, you have a ruling party that’s looking for any opportunity.”
The minister went on to criticise the lack of adherence to party regulations, particularly concerning the Supreme Court’s ruling.
“The Supreme Court has given judgement, setting aside the Court of Appeal judgement. It’s up to you to implement the judgement. You’re not dictating. This is why I keep on telling people. This is why I have many more to say,” he noted.
Wike also pointed out internal fears about the leadership vacuum within the party, stating, “The Constitution says, a correspondence to INEC must be a national chairman and national delegate. Now, you’re having a quagmire of who will be, or who is, the national delegate.”
Addressing recent defections from the PDP to the APC, particularly involving the Governor of Delta State and his predecessor, Wike reiterated the importance of leadership.
“I have always said leadership is key.
If you don’t show the right leadership, you suffer for it. I know that there would be an operation; it is a matter of time. When people talk about the Governor of Delta State and his predecessors and other team moving out of PDP to APC, what wrong did he do by saying he was going to support Tinubu, the president? That’s the crime? But the chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the PDP adopted Alex Otti, the Governor under the Labour Party, for a second tenure. Why are people not commenting about that?”
Wike expressed surprise at the PDP’s reaction, saying, “I’m surprised that PDP said they didn’t see it coming. I will not call the names of the governors, but I called them. I said, the way things are going, I warned you people, and see what would happen.”
He further clarified his own position within the APC government, emphasising his integrity.
“The only crime is that Wike is a minister under the APC government. I asked them, I’ve never said I was going to support the presidential candidate.
“Nigerians heard me clear and loud. I was the only former governor who did not support the president but made sure PDP won 100% in the governorship, in the national and state assembly,” he said.
