Wike: PDP Wouldn’t Have Won in Rivers If I Played Anti-Party During 2023 Elections
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has firmly denied accusations of engaging in anti-party activities during the 2023 general elections.
Speaking during his monthly press briefing in Abuja on Monday, Wike said that if he had truly worked against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party would not have secured major electoral victories in Rivers State, including the governorship and National Assembly seats.
Wike emphasized that he had always advocated for fairness and equity within the PDP, revealing that he and other prominent members including Bode George had earlier agreed that the party’s presidential ticket should be zoned to the South. However, according to him, that agreement was ignored by some members of the party.
“In 2023, I made it clear that I wouldn’t support our presidential candidate,” Wike said. “I believed in fairness. You can’t have both the presidential candidate and the national chairman from the North. It should’ve been balanced.”
He explained that while many thought Atiku Abubakar would win, he chose not to support him on the grounds of justice and inclusion.
“Some people thought Atiku would win and dismissed the need for equity. I stood my ground and said I wouldn’t support that.”
Wike also clarified why he didn’t defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), despite his support for President Bola Tinubu, the APC candidate in the presidential election.
“Why didn’t I join APC? Despite everything, PDP still won the governorship and National Assembly seats in Rivers. In fact, we were the only state that delivered 100 percent. That’s not something someone playing anti-party could achieve.”
He further pointed out that while Bode George backed the Labour Party, he did not support Peter Obi, because he believed Obi lacked the numbers to win.
“Even when George supported Labour Party, I said no Obi can’t win. Let’s be realistic. We all agreed to support a Southern candidate, and I stayed with that decision.”
Wike concluded by reaffirming his loyalty to the PDP, saying:
“I’m still a PDP member. Nobody can chase me out of the party.”
Reference
Wike: PDP Wouldn’t Have Won in Rivers If I Played Anti-Party During 2023 Elections