Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has cautioned that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is courting disaster if it brings back former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi as a contender in 2027.
Speaking during a media parley on Monday, Wike dismissed talks that the opposition party could back Obi or even former President Goodluck Jonathan, stressing that such decisions would “kill the party the more.”
“Obi was the one abusing the PDP, saying it was rotten. So the party is suddenly good enough for him to return and run under? People’s ambition can make them even go to Satan’s house,” Wike said, warning that PDP would not survive such a gamble.
The former Rivers governor also reacted to suggestions that he plays double politics, with critics claiming he is “PDP by day and APC by night.” He brushed this aside, saying Nigerians often dislike politicians who are blunt.
According to him, his insistence on fairness in power sharing within the PDP has always been clear. He recalled opposing attempts to allow both the presidential candidate and national chairman to emerge from the same region, arguing that such arrogance cost the party dearly in 2023.
“I did say with my colleagues: PDP, you are shooting yourself. You cannot have the presidential candidate and at the same time the national chairman of the party from the same region,” Wike stated.
He further emphasised that the presidency should rotate to the South to complete its eight years, noting that he had long championed this position despite criticism.
“At the end of the day, what has happened? You now realise it is true. We cannot take president and take chairman. Now you have given yourself national chairman, let the president go to the South,” he said.
Wike insisted that while members are free to hold their opinions, any attempt to re-admit Obi as PDP’s flagbearer would amount to destroying the party.
“If you want to destroy this party, dare it. If you want to destroy this party, dare to bring Obi. Let Obi come,” he warned.
