The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, would collapse if he defects to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, saying his political influence cuts across states and party structures nationwide.
Mr Wike made the assertion while speaking during a media interaction, amid growing speculation over his continued membership of the PDP following his close alliance with President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
According to the former Rivers State governor, his defection to the APC would trigger a mass exodus of PDP leaders and members across the country, effectively weakening the opposition party beyond repair.
“If today I say I am going to APC, that will be the end of the story. You will see governors, party leaders and supporters moving. It will not be something you will debate,” Mr Wike said.
He stressed that his political relevance was not limited to Rivers State, noting that his relationships and influence span multiple states and party blocs within the PDP.
Despite the bold statement, Mr Wike maintained that he has not defected from the PDP, insisting that he remains a member of the opposition party, even though he serves in an APC-led federal government.
He dismissed claims that recent defections by some of his loyalists, including lawmakers from Rivers State, were a reflection of his own political move, describing such actions as personal decisions.
Mr Wike also criticised the leadership of the PDP, accusing it of failing to manage internal crises and allowing personal interests to override the party’s collective strength.
“The problem of the PDP is not external. It is self-inflicted. If the party does not put its house in order, it will continue to lose relevance,” he added.
The former governor warned that the PDP risks losing its status as a strong opposition party ahead of the 2027 general elections if it continues on its current path of internal division and unresolved leadership disputes.
Mr Wike’s comments come against the backdrop of prolonged crisis within the PDP, marked by factional battles, defections, and disagreements over party direction since the 2023 general elections.
While many PDP leaders have openly accused Wike of undermining the party from within due to his alliance with the APC-led government, the FCT minister has repeatedly argued that working with the federal government is in the interest of national development rather than partisan politics.
Political analysts say Wike’s remarks further expose the deepening cracks within the PDP and underscore the growing uncertainty surrounding the party’s future as Nigeria’s main opposition force.
