Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that the crisis currently affecting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has subsided, at least for now, following the recent departure of some high-profile members, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
The Minister expressed his views on Monday during a media parley in Abuja, where he also emphasised that there were still some issues that the party needed to address in order to move forward.
“The crisis in PDP is over for now, because there are still some things remaining,” Wike said.
The Minister’s comments come on the heels of the exit of several prominent members from the PDP, including Atiku Abubakar.
Wike outlined conditions for lasting peace to return to the PDP, including the recognition of the South-South zonal congress of the party.
The Minister insisted that the South-South zonal congress, which was held in Calabar, must be recognised and respected.
He noted that the court has allowed the congress to hold, and there was nothing anyone could do about it.
According to him, the court allowed for the congress to hold, saying there’s nothing a person could do about it.
“Our South-South zonal congress that was held must be upheld. There’s no doubt, no two ways about it.
“Now, when we were doing our South-South congress, the acting National Chairman claimed that the PDP governors were not in support of the national congress. Where are the PDP governors now?
”Our congress was held in Calabar and there’s nothing anybody can tell us, ” he said.
Wike mentioned that Chief Dan Orbih emerged as the National Vice Chairman from the congress, and that the outcome should be accepted by all members.
”If they want another round of crisis, so be it. Our congress held and Chief Dan Orbih emerged as the National Vice Chairman from the congress. And the court allowed for the congress to hold,” Wike stated.
Wike also accused former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of dumping PDP over his 2027 presidential ambition.
He criticised Abubakar for switching political parties in pursuit of the presidency.
Wike highlighted Atiku’s history of switching parties, from the PDP to the Action Congress (AC), then back to the PDP, and later to the All Progressives Congress (APC) before returning to the PDP again.
The minister attributed Atiku’s moves to his desire to become Nigeria’s President, suggesting that he is driven by ambition rather than ideology.
Wike dismissed the opposition coalition against President Bola Tinubu and the APC, stating that it was a ploy by Atiku to gain relevance after failing to secure the PDP’s presidential ticket.
He questioned Atiku’s actions, saying, “If I were his son, I would sit him down and ask: ‘Dad, how can you keep hopping from one party to another at almost 80 years old?'”
Wike claimed that Atiku’s decision to push for a coalition against Tinubu was because he cannot secure the PDP’s presidential ticket.
