Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will survive its current internal crisis if leaders and members set aside personal interests and work together for the good of the party.
Wike made this statement in Abuja on Monday, June 9, while hosting key members of the party under the banner of Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP. The meeting, held in the nation’s capital, brought together political heavyweights from across the 36 states and the FCT.
Among the notable figures present were former governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Samuel Ortom (Benue), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia). Also in attendance were PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Philip Aduda, alongside several former lawmakers and party executives from the state and zonal levels.
Wike, a former Rivers State governor, called on PDP members to focus on saving the party from collapse, saying too many people are only interested in media attention instead of real solutions.
“All of you here are those who are committed to the survival of our party, not just talking on television or in the newspapers,” Wike said. “We must not allow the PDP to die.”
He argued that if the leadership had heeded the warnings of the G5 Governors — a group of five PDP governors who opposed the party’s presidential strategy in 2023 — the party would not be in its current situation.
“You may like us or hate us,” Wike said, “but the truth is, if the G5 had not taken the decisions we did, this country would have been in serious crisis.”
He added that the actions of the G5 were based on the need to uphold fairness and respect the constitutions of both the party and the country. He stressed that impunity and arrogance have no place in any opposition party hoping to win back power.
“No opposition party survives with impunity,” Wike said. “Let us not allow greed, let us not allow ego to kill our party.”
Wike also urged party leaders to stop sidelining or pushing away members who have concerns or grievances, saying reconciliation should be the top priority.
“Some people think we can just tell others to go to hell. That kind of attitude won’t help us. Ours is to bring people together, not chase them away,” he advised.
Also speaking at the meeting, former Benue Governor Samuel Ortom praised Wike’s consistent support for the PDP, saying he has done more than many others to keep the party alive.
“Tell me, who in Nigeria has contributed more to the growth of the PDP than Wike?” Ortom asked. He also suggested that Wike’s appointment as FCT Minister by President Bola Tinubu shows that even the ruling party recognises his political influence and ability to deliver results.
According to Ortom, “President Tinubu knows Nigeria cannot be a one-party state. That’s why he chose someone like Wike, who can work and bring people together.”
He admitted the PDP made serious mistakes during the 2023 elections, which led to its current struggles. “That is why we are where we are today,” Ortom said.
The PDP, once Nigeria’s dominant political party, has faced several setbacks in recent years, including election losses, internal divisions, and defections to rival parties. The recent tensions over zoning, leadership decisions, and presidential candidate choices have deepened cracks within the party.
However, with leaders like Wike and other concerned stakeholders calling for unity and reform, the party hopes to rebuild ahead of future elections.
