The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has cautioned that the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), risks self-destruction if it attempts to readmit former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, into its fold.
Speaking during a media chat on Monday, Wike argued that the party had failed to learn vital lessons from the missteps that contributed to its poor outing in the 2023 general elections.
The former Rivers State governor recalled how he and other senior stakeholders had repeatedly warned against allowing both the presidential candidate and the national chairman to emerge from the North.
According to him, the decision was unjust, lopsided, and ultimately politically suicidal.
“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.
He accused the party of “stealing” both positions in clear disregard of calls for fairness and balance, a move he believes directly led to its defeat 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 stressed that power rotation to the South remains non-negotiable if the PDP is to rebuild, regain credibility, and secure political stability.
He described the party’s refusal to embrace equity and zoning as a major reason for its current weakness.
Turning to speculations about Peter Obi’s possible return, Wike dismissed the idea outright, calling it both 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,” HE SAID.
The minister insisted that allowing Obi back would erode the PDP’s credibility and destroy what remains of its ideological foundation.
“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 long-standing stance that equity, justice, and zoning must remain the cornerstone of the PDP’s strategy if it hopes to regain national relevance.
