In a bold declaration that has sent ripples through Nigeria's political landscape, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has claimed the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would face a terminal crisis if he chose to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A Stark Warning to the PDP
Wike made this striking assertion during his end-of-the-year media interaction held in Port Harcourt on Monday. He was responding directly to questions about his potential move to the ruling party, a speculation fueled by the recent defection of his political allies in Rivers State, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, to the APC.
The minister, however, was quick to clarify that he remains a card-carrying member of the PDP and is not currently considering an exit. He framed his statement as a demonstration of his political weight rather than an announcement of imminent departure. "Today if I say I want to decamp to APC, that will be the end of PDP," Wike stated emphatically.
He elaborated that his move would trigger a mass exodus, predicting that party leaders from multiple states would follow his lead. "If today I say, gentlemen, look, we have had enough of PDP, watch those who will decamp in Benue; watch those who will decamp in Plateau, in Abia, in Edo," he said.
Dismissing Fubara's Defection and Leadership Claims
Addressing the political developments in Rivers State, Wike sought to downplay the significance of Governor Fubara's switch to the APC. He assured his supporters that his own political relevance and structure in the state remain unshaken and incontestable.
Wike argued that a governor's defection only holds weight when he moves with a significant portion of the party's apparatus. "If a governor is moving to another party, he moves with council chairmen, party leaders and members of the state assembly," he noted. In Fubara's case, Wike claimed the key figures had already left the PDP for the APC independently, meaning the governor "joined the party alone."
He further contested the notion that Fubara's position automatically makes him the party leader in the state, drawing a distinction from scenarios in Lagos and Kano. "There are exceptions to the rule. There is nothing like 001 in the state, you register in your ward and not at the state level," Wike explained, emphasizing the grassroots nature of party registration.
The Qualities of True Leadership
Beyond official titles, Wike stressed that authentic leadership requires exceptional qualities that command followership. He implied that merely being a governor does not confer automatic leadership of a party's structure in a state.
In a pointed remark with implications for the 2027 elections, Wike suggested that Governor Fubara's solo defection "doesn't guarantee him an automatic ticket for second tenure." This comment highlights the ongoing power struggle and sets the stage for continued political maneuvering in Rivers State.
Wike's media chat has firmly re-centered him in the national political conversation, serving as a reminder of his influence while leaving his ultimate party allegiance—a subject of intense speculation—deliberately ambiguous.
