The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Monday declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) “appeared not to have learnt” from its past mistakes, as he defended his continued support for President Bola Tinubu and candidates aligned with him.
Speaking during a media parley in Abuja, Wike reiterated that his backing of the President was neither secret nor recent, stressing that he had openly declared his position ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“I told you in 2023 that even as a PDP man, I was going to work for the President. That is what I did because I believe, and rightly so, that the other parties did not present serious candidates,” he said.
The former Rivers State governor maintained that his political stance has remained consistent and that he saw no contradiction in supporting Tinubu while retaining his membership of the PDP.
Wike, a prominent figure in the opposition party, was critical of the PDP’s internal dynamics, saying the party had failed to reflect on the issues that led to its electoral setbacks.
According to him, rather than addressing its structural and leadership challenges, the party has continued on a path that weakens its cohesion and public appeal.
He suggested that unless the PDP undertakes sincere reforms and learns from its experiences, it risks further political decline.
The minister’s comments are likely to reignite debates within the PDP over loyalty, discipline and the party’s direction ahead of future elections. Wike has remained a controversial but influential voice within the opposition, particularly since openly aligning with Tinubu during the 2023 presidential race.
Despite criticisms from some party members, Wike insisted that his actions were guided by his convictions about national interest and the quality of leadership presented to Nigerians at the time.
Observers say his remarks underscore the lingering divisions within the PDP and the complex realignments shaping Nigeria’s political landscape.
