A political storm is brewing within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following a bombshell declaration by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, openly backing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in 2027.
In a no-holds-barred media chat in Abuja, Wike stunned many when he said, “I am a politician who says it the way it is. I will support Tinubu for a second term, and I will lead the campaign in Rivers.”
His statement has rattled the PDP hierarchy, with some members demanding immediate disciplinary action and others hesitating, wary of Wike’s political grip in Rivers State.
Wike fired back at critics within his party: “I am not a liability. I am an asset, whether you like it or not… I dare anybody in PDP to suspend me, and they will see.”
The former Rivers State governor, known for his brash political style, also defended his loyalty to Tinubu, saying, “Tinubu made me the FCT Minister, and I won’t allow anybody to crumble our political structure… I have character.”
While the PDP’s National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, downplayed the controversy, saying, “Who will remove him? He has expressed his view, so let’s leave it at that,” other party leaders expressed outrage.
Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor dismissed Wike’s relevance: “Wike’s utterances are not worth the attention of serious-minded party faithful. He is not worth the attention of the party.”
The internal rift highlights growing tensions in the opposition, as some fear Wike’s actions could fracture the PDP ahead of 2027.
Opposition figures outside the PDP have also slammed Wike. CUPP chieftain Ikenga Ugochinyere labelled him “President Tinubu’s hatchet man… an agent to watch.”
NNPP’s Ladipo Johnson noted that Tinubu’s re-election is far from assured: “In 2027, the question for Nigerians will be whether they are better off now than in January 2023. That would be the golden question.”
Veteran PDP leader Chief Bode George was blunt in his criticism, saying, “Wike is the same age as my first child. His comment that the PDP didn’t make him is a disgusting abomination.”
As debates rage over whether to expel Wike and other dissenting figures like Senator Samuel Anyanwu, some PDP insiders warn of the consequences.
“Wike’s hold on Rivers State is undebatable. Removing him could seriously hurt our chances in 2027,” a senior party official admitted.
The fallout from Wike’s declaration is far from over, with many now questioning the PDP’s unity—and the strength of Nigeria’s opposition—as the 2027 race begins to take shape.
