The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has cautioned that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faces the risk of collapse if it attempts to reintegrate former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, into its ranks.
During a media chat on Monday, Nyesom Wike criticized the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying the party had failed to learn from the costly errors that led to its defeat in the 2023 general elections.
He reminded Nigerians that he and other senior figures had consistently warned against a situation where both the presidential candidate and the national chairman would emerge from the North, describing the decision as unfair and a recipe for disaster.
“From day one, I told my colleagues, PDP, you are shooting yourself. If you allow what is going on to continue, you’ll pay. And what did I say? You cannot have the presidential candidate at the same time as the national chairman of the party,” Wike said.
The former Rivers State governor accused the PDP of “stealing” both positions and ignoring calls for fairness and balance, a decision he argued contributed to the party’s loss at the polls.
“It is better now you have stolen the presidential ticket—and again stole the national chairman. I said it will purge you. And it really purged them. I have no regret for it,” he declared.
Wike insisted that the presidency must rotate back to the South to ensure equity and political stability.
According to him, the PDP’s arrogance and refusal to heed internal warnings have left the party weakened and vulnerable.
He also dismissed talks of Obi’s possible return to the PDP, describing the move as dangerous and hypocritical.
“To what? Bringing Obi to where? You want to kill the party? Obi that was abusing the party, saying it is rotten—so the party is now good enough for him? Ambition can make people even go to Satan’s house,” Wike said.
The minister emphasized that taking such a step would damage the party’s credibility even further and wipe out whatever is left of its ideological base.
“If you want to destroy this party, dare it—bring Obi. There’s no way he will come back just because of ambition. No more ideology, no longer principle,” he added.
Wike reaffirmed his stance that only a firm commitment to equity, justice, and the zoning principle can restore the PDP’s national relevance and position it as a credible alternative in Nigeria’s political landscape.
