Wike, Ortom, Fayose, Ikpeazu Under Fire for Tinubu Visit as PDP Cries Betrayal and Corruption
ABUJA, The recent visit by former governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has triggered a wave of condemnation and unrest within the opposition party, with many accusing the defecting leaders of deepening political corruption, sabotaging internal democracy, and betraying the very platform that gave them power.
Led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, the delegation included two notorious members of the G-5 rebellion former Benue Governor Samuel Ortom and former Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu alongside former Ekiti Governor Ayo Fayose. Their presence at the Presidential Villa is being widely interpreted as a calculated endorsement of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections.
The political meeting has further eroded confidence in the PDP’s ability to police its own ranks and enforce discipline, especially after Wike publicly declared support for Tinubu’s re-election while still claiming membership in the opposition.
“These are men who have consistently undermined the PDP from within. What we are witnessing is the shameless normalization of betrayal, corruption, and political prostitution,” said Alhaji Ibrahim Tsauri, a former national secretary of the PDP.
According to Tsauri, Wike and his loyalists have done enough to warrant immediate expulsion, yet the party’s current leadership, under acting chairman Umar Damagum, has failed to act due to “lack of will, leadership weakness, or worse compromise.”
Political watchers say this is more than just a visit. It is a damning exposure of the rot in Nigeria’s political system, where public officeholders abandon ideology for personal gain, and corruption thrives under the guise of “political consultation.”
“They’re Killing the PDP from Within”
The G-5 bloc, which notoriously undermined the PDP presidential campaign in 2023, now appears emboldened by their cozy ties with the Tinubu-led APC. Critics argue that their open fraternization with the president without repercussions from the PDP is a slap in the face of loyal members and grassroots supporters.
“They actively sabotaged our presidential campaign. Now they are openly aligning with the same person they helped install. That is corruption not just of money, but of values and conscience,” said Alhaji Umar Sani, former spokesperson of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council.
Sani condemned the meeting as a “dangerous cycle of disloyalty and political self-service,” warning that the party’s silence would amount to complicity.
“Samuel Ortom is still a BoT member of the PDP. His participation gives this meeting more weight than a casual visit. It reflects the deep moral rot inside the party structure,” he added.
Sani’s remarks echoed on social media, where he wrote on X:
“If the PDP hopes to survive as a credible opposition, it must cleanse itself of these saboteurs. This is no time for cowardice or silence. The PDP must draw a line.”
Tinubu’s Silent Harvest of Defectors
Observers say President Tinubu is quietly harvesting disgruntled PDP figures to consolidate power ahead of 2027, with Wike as his main ally and political recruiter. Wike’s recent praise from the president who hailed his “giant strides” in the FCT and extended an open invitation to join the APC further suggests a backdoor alignment.
Analysts argue that this is classic Nigerian politics: loyalty to institutions is fluid, and corruption is not just financial it’s ideological. Many of these ex-governors left office with unresolved allegations of financial misappropriation, bloated state debts, and non-performing projects.
“Wike and his allies epitomize the corruption of Nigeria’s political soul. They sell out their parties, their people, and their principles for a seat at the next table of power,” said a political analyst who spoke on condition of anonymity.
A Call for Purge or Collapse?
As the PDP heads into its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and August national convention, insiders say the party stands at a crossroads. Will it clean house, restore internal accountability, and rebuild as a true opposition? Or will it collapse under the weight of compromise and double-dealers?
“If Wike finally joins APC, it might be a blessing in disguise,” Tsauri said. “It will at least give us clarity and help us reclaim the soul of the PDP.”
For now, the party faithful wait some with hope, others with despair as the drama unfolds in what is fast becoming a tragic case study in Nigerian political corruption and betrayal.
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Wike, Ortom, Fayose, Ikpeazu Under Fire for Tinubu Visit as PDP Cries Betrayal and Corruption