“Sidelining Me Will Bury the Party,” Wike Warns PDP Governors

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has warned governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that sidelining him from party affairs could lead to its collapse. Speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Friday, Wike criticised his exclusion from key consultations within the party, questioning the rationale behind leaving him out because he no longer holds a governorship position.

“Have I not said it before now that the booby trap you are setting will consume you? The way these present governors are doing, they will bury this party,” he said. The minister expressed frustration that his current role as FCT Minister appears insufficient for inclusion in PDP decision-making, stressing that his contributions to the party should earn him continued involvement.

“I am the FCT Minister. Are you telling me that because I am not a governor, you will hold a PDP stakeholders’ meeting and exclude me, and then expect the party to survive?” Wike asked. “Assuming I am not a minister, by the role I have played in the PDP till now, is it right to say I cannot be consulted in taking decisions of the party? Certainly not.”

Wike dismissed suggestions that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was responsible for PDP’s internal problems, arguing instead that the party’s challenges were self-inflicted. “All these talks about APC are rubbish. Is it APC that makes you take wrong decisions? You mean two or three people, because they are governors and receive large allocations, will go and decide, and you tell me to follow? Follow who?” he said.

Commenting on the party’s planned national convention, Wike accused the PDP leadership of stalling the process by failing to complete necessary congresses and other preparatory activities. “If they do the right thing, will anybody stall the convention? They have not done the congresses and other things that should be in place,” he stated.

The PDP has been grappling with internal disputes and a series of defections in recent months involving top figures such as Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno. The party is also facing multiple legal challenges ahead of its forthcoming national convention.