Amid growing concern over the state of Nigeria’s main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), senior party figures convened in Abuja on Monday to chart a path forward. At the centre of the discussion was FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who declared that the PDP still had a future — but only if members set aside ego and impunity.
Wike, addressing a gathering of PDP stakeholders under the “Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP” platform, urged members to stop viewing opposition politics as a platform for unchecked behaviour.
“No opposition party survives if its members act with impunity,” Wike cautioned. “We must stop tearing ourselves apart and instead start rebuilding.”
The meeting featured notable political figures including former governors Samuel Ortom, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, and Okezie Ikpeazu, along with serving and former legislators and party executives from across Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT.
In a candid address, Wike insisted the party could no longer afford to ignore internal dissent or pretend all was well.
“The PDP should not be allowed to die,” he said. “Our constitution — and that of the country — must be respected. If the party had done that earlier, we wouldn’t be facing this crisis.”
He also reaffirmed the controversial actions taken by the G5 governors during the 2023 general election, insisting their defiance helped avoid a deeper national crisis.
Wike took aim at unnamed party figures who he said had chosen to insult and dismiss opposing views instead of working to unite the party. “Telling people to go to hell doesn’t build unity,” he remarked.
Samuel Ortom, speaking in support, defended Wike’s continued relevance in national politics, noting that his appointment as FCT Minister by President Tinubu, despite belonging to an opposition party, was a sign of respect for his national standing.
“Say what you like — nobody has done more for the PDP than Wike,” Ortom said. “It’s time for the party to own up to its mistakes and focus on the future.”
As the PDP continues to grapple with its post-election identity, the message from the Abuja gathering was clear: only through introspection, unity, and respect for its foundational values can the party hope to regain its footing.
