The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has cautioned that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) risks self-destruction if it attempts to bring back former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, into its ranks.
Speaking during a media chat on Monday, Wike accused the PDP of failing to learn from past mistakes that cost it dearly in the 2023 general elections.
He recalled warning party leaders that it was unjust and politically dangerous to allow both the presidential candidate and national chairman to emerge from the North.
“From day one, I told my colleagues, PDP, you are shooting yourself. If you allow what is going on to continue, you’ll pay. And what did I say? You cannot have the presidential candidate at the same time as the national chairman of the party,” Wike said.
The former Rivers State governor alleged that the PDP “stole” both positions, ignoring calls for fairness and balance, a move he argued weakened the party and paved the way for its defeat.
“It is better now you have stolen the presidential ticket—and again stole the national chairman. I said it will purge you. And it really purged them. I have no regret for it,” he declared.
Wike insisted that for Nigeria’s political stability, the presidency must rotate back to the South, warning that ignoring zoning principles would further divide the country.
On Obi’s possible return to the PDP, the minister was emphatic:
“To what? Bringing Obi to where? You want to kill the party? Obi that was abusing the party, saying it is rotten—so the party is now good enough for him? Ambition can make people even go to Satan’s house,” he said.
He stressed that readmitting Obi would erode the PDP’s credibility and undermine any ideological foundation left within the party.
“If you want to destroy this party, dare it—bring Obi. There’s no way he will come back just because of ambition. No more ideology, no longer principle,” Wike added.
Wike maintained that his position remains unchanged: only equity, justice, and zoning can restore the PDP’s relevance in Nigeria’s political landscape.
