The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has accused governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of sidelining him in key decision-making processes, warning that the party could collapse if such exclusion continues.
Speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Friday, Wike expressed disappointment over being left out of major consultations despite his long-standing contributions to the PDP.
He said, “Have I not said it before now that the booby trap you are setting will consume you? The way these present governors are doing, they will bury this party.”
Wike questioned the justification for his exclusion simply because he no longer serves as a governor.
“I am the FCT Minister. Are you telling me that because I am not a governor, you will hold a PDP stakeholders’ meeting and exclude me, and then expect the party to survive?” he queried.
He added, “Assuming I am not a minister, by the role I have played in the PDP till now, is it right to say I cannot be consulted in taking decisions of the party? Certainly not.”
The minister also dismissed claims that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was behind the PDP’s internal challenges, insisting that the party’s problems were self-inflicted.
“All these talks about APC are rubbish. Is it APC that makes you take wrong decisions? You mean two or three people, because they are governors and receive large allocations, will go and decide, and you tell me to follow? Follow who?” he asked.
Wike also criticised the delay in holding the party’s national convention, blaming it on the leadership’s failure to conduct necessary congresses and internal processes.
“If they do the right thing, will anybody stall the convention? They have not done the congresses and other things that should be in place,” he said.
The PDP has recently been battling internal crises, multiple defections involving top members such as Peter Mbah, Oborevwori, and Umo Enoh, as well as pending court cases concerning its upcoming convention.