The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Barr. Nyesom Wike, FCT Minister, of anti-party activities after he openly declared support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.
In a statement issued on Sunday by Ini Ememobong, national publicity secretary of the PDP, the party said Wike described himself as the “number one supporter” of the APC’s candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
According to the party, the declaration confirms the basis of Wike’s expulsion for what it described as sustained anti-party activities.
The PDP accused the former Rivers governor of engaging in “anti-democratic adventurism” and acting as a constant agent provocateur in the political space.
The party alleged that Wike has repeatedly fuelled leadership crises within the PDP since 2015, beginning from the Ali Modu Sheriff era to the removal of Uche Secondus and later Iyorchia Ayu as national chairmen.
It said Wike championed the emergence of Ayu as national chairman against the advice of party leaders before later leading calls for his removal.
The PDP said Wike’s conduct in Rivers state also reflected the same pattern, citing alleged imposition of candidates, exclusionary internal practices and the prevention of a duly nominated PDP presidential candidate from campaigning in the state.
The party said Wike’s politics “thrives on perpetual conflict” and seeks relevance through “calculated disruption”.
The statement said: “All through the interview, Minister Wike showed obvious signs of fear of losing the attention of the President, his slipping grip of Rivers State, and his frustration with the unbending nature of the true leadership of the PDP at the national level.”
The PDP said Wike and his associates had now openly chosen to work against the party’s collective interest in favour of an opposing political platform.
It alleged that Wike and his group, including Senator Sam Anyanwu, had agreed to support the APC and President Tinubu as part of a deal aimed at undermining the PDP.
The party said: “We remind Wike that as a lawyer, he knows that agreements made to achieve an illegal purpose are not enforceable and should not be encouraged.”
The PDP assured Nigerians that it would field a credible presidential candidate who would enjoy widespread support and win the 2027 election.
The party added that the Kabiru Turaki-led national working committee was working to rebuild the PDP, resolve pending court cases and prepare the party for electoral success in 2027.
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.