Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), says the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would crumble in the event of his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Wike made the claim while fielding questions during his end-of-year media engagement in Port Harcourt on Monday.
The former Rivers governor addressed speculation about whether he intends to pitch his tent with the ruling party.
Recent political developments have seen his loyalists in the Rivers state house of assembly, alongside Siminalayi Fubara, Rivers governor, leave the PDP for the APC.
Despite that, Wike affirmed his commitment to the opposition party and ruled out any plan to quit.
“Today, if I say I want to decamp to APC, that will be the end of PDP. You will see leaders of the party in other states who will join me,” he said.
“If today I say, gentlemen, look, we have had enough of PDP, watch those who will decamp in Benue; watch those who will decamp in Plateau, in Abia, in Edo.”
The FCT minister maintained that defections from PDP do not compel him to do the same, insisting on his loyalty to the party.
“But the mere fact that people have left PDP for APC does not mean I have to leave. No, it is not correct. I am still a member of PDP,” he said.
Responding to suggestions that Siminalayi Fubara could displace him politically in Rivers State, Wike insisted his political base remains intact.
He noted that Fubara’s entry into the APC does not automatically confer leadership of the party on him in the state.
“There are exceptions to the rule. There is nothing like 001 in the state; you register in your ward and not at the state level,” Wike said.
“So, if there is 001, it is in your ward, because every party member registers in his ward.”
He stated that leadership within the party requires competence and influence beyond occupying the governor’s seat.
Wike further insisted that Fubara’s move to the APC carried little political weight because he crossed over without his structure.
“If a governor is moving to another party, he moves with council chairmen, party leaders, and members of the state assembly.
“In his case, the people had already left PDP and joined APC on their own; as such, defecting to APC doesn’t guarantee him an automatic ticket for a second tenure,” Wike added.