Wike laments PDP’s internal crisis, warns against ‘smartness’ politics

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has once again sounded the alarm over the lingering internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), pointing fingers at what he described as manipulation, selfish interest, and a lack of genuine commitment to equity and fairness within the party.

Speaking during a media parley with journalists in Abuja, Wike did not hold back his frustrations regarding the party’s leadership tussle and the contentious issue of zoning—a longstanding principle within the PDP meant to ensure balance among Nigeria’s diverse geopolitical zones.

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“Look, it is in our constitution. It is in our tradition. When these people take chairman, they will go for presidential candidate,” Wike declared, expressing displeasure over how the party’s leadership has allegedly abandoned the zoning principle.

“Because of selfish interest, they manipulated the system. They don’t know, we shouldn’t do zoning now. Hold on, we will do zoning. Before we know, some people are going to buy from us. And we laughed. It’s okay.”

According to Wike, the failure to adhere to the zoning arrangement has not only bred discontent within the party but also weakened its structure and credibility. He recounted how the party leadership allowed both the chairmanship and the presidential ticket to be concentrated in one zone, a move he says undermined internal equity and triggered silent protests.

“They don’t want to do zoning. Now, a zone took chairman of the party. A zone took the presidential candidate. It’s okay. For peace to reign. So we can have a voice,” he added.Wike further criticized what he described as a recurring cycle of deceit and overconfidence by some members of the PDP leadership.

“They go front and back. They go front and back. We say this front and back, it will cost you something. Of course, arrogance came in. ‘Forget, we have won the election. Forget we have won the election.’ Who are they? See where we are.”

Taking a swipe at the PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, the former governor questioned his political relevance in the current climate. “Where is the presidential candidate now? Yes. Where will he go? Where will he go? Smart ones, who have interest—no, it’s not time, as you see.”

The FCT Minister also expressed dismay at the party’s national convention planning process, accusing some leaders of plotting to repeat past political schemes by skewing leadership positions in favor of certain regions.

“You are going to national convention. You want the south to go and produce the chairman. So that we will have the presidential candidate. I said, why not? Look. Nigeria today says the south is occupying the presidency. Why not as a party? Come out openly now. Our presidential candidate will also come from the south. Now, you don’t want to do that.”

He warned sternly that any attempt to continue the alleged manipulations under the guise of political strategy would be counterproductive. “You want to play the same game. You play the… It will backfire. And when it backfires, it’s all these people who did this. People who did that. It will backfire.”

Calling for openness and transparency, Wike who contested alongside Atiku Abubakar in the PDP’s last presidential primary advised the PDP to embrace honesty and strategic clarity moving forward.

“And I told people, this smartness don’t help you. Come out now. And let everybody know. This is where we are heading to. But playing this game—that, ‘oh, we will do this’—it will not work. Not tomorrow. We are telling you, look. Stop this smartness.”

Wike’s remarks come amid renewed calls for party reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections. His comments have reignited debates within the party about zoning, leadership rotation, and the future of Nigeria’s oldest opposition political movement – PDP.