The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has called on the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to urgently resolve its internal crises ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that continued disunity could jeopardise the party’s electoral fortunes.
Wike made the appeal on Monday during a media interaction at his office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he expressed concern over what he described as the party’s prolonged instability.
According to the minister, unresolved disputes within the PDP could severely weaken its chances of returning to power in the next election cycle.
“We have a leadership that is not focused, a leadership that does not know what to do or take any suggestions,” Wike said. “If the leadership is committed and comes back to say, ‘We have made a mistake; why are things happening this way, and what do we do to correct them?’ then there can be progress.”
He stressed that winning elections requires deliberate planning and positioning, not mere ambition. “It is not just about taking over government; you have to position yourself. If the leadership continues like this, by 2027 it is likely we may not make it. But are we going to allow the party to die? Can’t we start to rebuild and make the right decisions ahead of 2027? It all depends on leadership,” he added.
The PDP has been beset by internal disagreements since the 2023 general elections, a situation that has led to the defection of several members, including serving governors, to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
During the media interaction, Wike also took a swipe at the PDP National Convention held on November 15 in Ibadan, Oyo State, speaking mockingly about the exercise.
He accused Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, of attempting to exercise total control over the party and alleged that Makinde obtained an ex parte court order from an Ibadan court to facilitate the convention.
Wike and Makinde, once close political allies, have recently fallen out, with tensions escalating between their camps.
On December 23, Makinde accused Wike of working to undermine the PDP in support of President Bola Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
The Oyo governor made the allegation while recounting discussions he said he had with President Tinubu and Wike, warning that such actions could threaten Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
Speaking at a media briefing at the Government House in Ibadan, Makinde said President Tinubu had previously asked him to help organise the APC in Oyo State, a request he claimed to have declined out of loyalty to the PDP.
“The President said, ‘No, Seyi, it is you that I want to help me organise APC in Oyo,’ and I replied, ‘No sir, I am of the PDP; I can never help you organise the APC in Oyo State,’” Makinde said.
Makinde further alleged that at a meeting attended by President Tinubu, Wike, the president’s chief of staff and other officials, the FCT minister openly offered to manage the PDP for the president ahead of the 2027 elections, a remark he said deepened fears of moves to weaken the opposition and tilt the country towards a one-party system.
