In a stark admonition on Friday, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike warned governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that sidelining prominent party figures risks “burying” the party, urging immediate steps toward inclusive decision-making.
According to Wike, the growing tendency to hold stakeholders’ meetings without consulting veteran leaders is counterproductive. Consequently, he insisted that exclusionary practices are deepening internal divisions and could precipitate defections if left unchecked. “I am the FCT Minister. Are you telling me that because I am not a governor, you will hold a PDP stakeholders’ meeting and exclude me, and then expect the party to survive?” he asked, underscoring his point.
Moreover, Wike rejected suggestions that external forces—particularly the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)—are to blame for the PDP’s difficulties. Instead, he argued that the party’s woes are largely self-inflicted, driven by unilateral actions of a few. As he put it, “All this talk about APC is rubbish… Is it APC that is making you take the wrong decision?” Thus, he framed the solution as internal reform rather than looking outward for scapegoats.
Furthermore, Wike pointed to procedural failures, including incomplete congresses and opaque consultations, as practical drivers of the crisis. Therefore, he urged governors and party organs to adopt more transparent and consultative mechanisms so that decisions reflect collective will rather than the preferences of an influential minority.
Nevertheless, Wike’s warning was not merely an indictment; it was also a call for reconciliation. He urged that senior stakeholders be brought back into meaningful conversations, arguing that unity will be essential if the PDP hopes to remain a credible opposition force. “If you marginalise long-standing voices, you risk the institutional memory and cohesion the party needs to survive,” he said.
Meanwhile, party insiders suggest the spat reflects a broader power struggle between financially powerful state executives and national figures who claim ownership of the party’s founding ethos. Consequently, analysts warn that unless the rift is bridged, the PDP may face electoral setbacks and further attrition ahead of upcoming contests.
Looking ahead, whether governors respond to Wike’s entreaty with outreach or continue current practices will determine the party’s trajectory. In short, Wike’s message was plain and pointed: sideline him and others at your peril — because, in his words, that course “will lead to the party’s burial.”
