FCT Minister Nyesom Wike says PDP can regain strength if its leadership addresses internal crisis, admits mistakes, and governs the party properly
Wike Says PDP Can Recover If Leadership Ends Crisis, Takes Responsibility
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) still has the capacity to rebound and reclaim its political strength—if it confronts and resolves its deepening leadership challenges.
Wike made the remarks on Monday during his end-of-year media chat in Port Harcourt, where he assessed the state of the opposition party amid growing internal discontent and defections.
According to the former Rivers State governor, the PDP’s current predicament is self-inflicted, stressing that the party’s fortunes could improve significantly if its leaders embraced discipline, inclusiveness, and sound decision-making.
In recent months, the PDP has been rocked by mass defections and internal divisions, largely attributed to a lingering leadership crisis that many fear could threaten the party’s survival.
Wike recalled that he had repeatedly warned the party’s leadership about the dangers of ignoring internal grievances and refusing to do “the right thing.”
“Leadership is very key to everything you are doing, whether in association or in government,” Wike said.
“If the leader does not take the right decision, everything will go wrong.”
Drawing from the party’s history, the FCT minister noted that the PDP had previously weathered internal storms without collapsing, attributing that resilience to focused and selfless leadership at the time.
“We have had this kind of problem before and the party did not collapse. Nobody defected because the leadership was committed to ensuring that certain things are done to keep the party afloat,” he stated.
However, Wike argued that the current leadership lacks clarity of purpose and political depth, warning that politics cannot be run like a private enterprise.
“But when you have a leadership that is not focused, a leadership that is not selfish and does not understand that politics is different from business, of course you are bound to see what you are seeing today,” he added.
Describing the PDP as a “well-known party” with a strong legacy, Wike lamented that the opposition platform has now been pushed to the political sidelines due to poor leadership choices.
According to him, the party’s decline stems from leaders who are unsure of direction, resistant to advice, and unwilling to accept responsibility.
Despite his criticisms, Wike expressed optimism that the PDP could still bounce back—provided its leadership is ready to acknowledge past mistakes, embrace reforms, and move forward with sincerity. Read More
