Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has assured party stakeholders that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will not collapse despite the internal crisis currently rocking it.
Wike gave this assurance on Monday while hosting prominent PDP figures at his official residence in Abuja. The meeting was attended by key stakeholders including former Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Samuel Ortom (Benue), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), as well as the PDP National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and former Senate Minority Leader, Philip Aduda.
Also in attendance were current and former federal and state lawmakers, zonal and state party executives, among others.
Addressing the gathering, Wike emphasized the commitment of the attendees to the survival and unity of the party.
“All of you here are those who are committed to the survival of our party, not just by talking on TV or in newspapers, but through actions at various levels,” he said.
He credited the stability of Nigeria’s democracy to the efforts of the G5 Governors, a group of PDP governors who challenged the party’s direction during the 2023 elections.
“Today, this country is stabilised because of the activities of the G5 Governors. You may like us or hate us, but if we didn’t take the decision we took, this country would have been in crisis,” Wike declared. “If the party had listened to what we said, we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
He further urged party members to uphold the constitution of both the party and the country, stressing that the opposition must not act with impunity.
“No opposition party acts with impunity. Ours is to continue to placate people and bring them together, not to drive them away.”
Speaking on recent issues within the party, Wike questioned the attention placed on the position of National Secretary, citing examples of other party members who contested elections without stepping down from their posts, including the Governor of Taraba State, Agbu Kefas, and the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi.
Former Governor Samuel Ortom, also present at the meeting, declared that Wike’s contributions to the PDP were unmatched.
“He who pays the piper dictates the tune,” Ortom said. “Let anyone challenge and tell Nigerians who has contributed more to the growth of the PDP than Wike.”
He also suggested that President Tinubu’s appointment of Wike as FCT Minister was a strategic decision to ensure political balance and avoid a one-party state.
“For whatever reason, PDP made a lot of mistakes and we are where we are today,” Ortom added.
The meeting was still ongoing behind closed doors as of press time and is expected to produce a communique.
The PDP is currently facing internal divisions, with several governors and lawmakers defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
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