Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has attributed the recent mass defection of Rivers State lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to deep-seated divisions within the opposition party.
Constitutional Right Amidst Party Crisis
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, December 5, 2025, after inspecting road projects in Abuja, Wike stated that while he was not personally notified beforehand, the lawmakers acted within their rights. He explained that the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and 15 other legislators left the PDP because the party is "fully factionalised."
"It’s unfortunate. I have always said everybody has the right to make a choice," Wike said. "The party is fully factionalised. And the requirement of the Constitution is that when a party is factionalised, members are allowed to leave."
Wike's Stance and Warning to PDP
Despite the significant loss, the former Rivers State Governor insisted that he remains a member of the PDP. He pointed out that not all members of the state assembly had defected.
"I’m still in the PDP. You will see that it’s not everybody who has left. I believe 16 or 17 of them have left out of 27. We still have a good number, about 10, and we will continue to work together," he stated.
Wike used the opportunity to urge the PDP's national leadership to address its internal problems swiftly. He warned that continued disunity would further erode the party's strength and relevance.
"At the end of the day, if you don’t put your house in order, it is the party that is losing. Those who left are free, but those who have remained in the party, we will continue to work together," he emphasised.
Dismissing Distractions and Focusing on Work
The Minister also addressed recent rumours that claimed he had been arrested in France. He dismissed the report as a politically motivated falsehood designed to distract him from his duties as FCT Minister.
"Well, what is important is that you remain focused. As you said, they were the ones that were arrested," Wike remarked jokingly. He recalled a previous false claim about his health, stating that such tactics have become routine for his critics.
"Last time they said I was sick and flown overseas. This time, they said I was arrested in France. I’m doing my job," he asserted.
Wike stressed that his primary objective is to deliver on the mandate given to him by President Bola Tinubu and to meet the expectations of his principal.
"As far as my boss, who is the President, is happy with what I am doing, and I am focused on delivering the mandate, people will say all kinds of things," he said. He added that consistent performance and results would ultimately silence unfounded criticism.
In recent months, the Minister has increased his supervision of infrastructure projects across the nation's capital, aligning his efforts with the Federal Government's renewed focus on security and development.
