Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains a political force to be reckoned with, insisting it is neither weak nor a charity organisation begging for sympathy.
Wike made the point while addressing the party’s 105th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja on Monday night.
Sounding a note of caution, the former Rivers State governor warned party members against treating the PDP like a welfare centre, urging them instead to roll up their sleeves and reconnect with the grassroots to rebuild the party from the ward and polling unit levels.
“Forget the idea that PDP is a charity organisation. PDP remains a formidable political force despite its current challenges.
“PDP is too strong, very strong. We must capitalise on what we have and move forward,” he said.
Wike spoke at length on the party’s internal wrangling, lingering legal battles and the hard road ahead, stressing that his intervention was driven purely by concern for the party’s survival, stability and eventual success across the country.
He also disclosed his strong interest in the affairs of the PDP in Oyo State, describing it as part of a broader effort to ensure the party’s continued relevance and growth.
While commending the Board of Trustees (BoT) and the National Working Committee (NWC) for their calls for peace, Wike urged party leaders and members not to lower their guard, warning that forces bent on destabilising the PDP were still at work.
According to him, opponents would not rest until they believed the party had been buried, but he maintained that such plans were doomed to fail.
“They will not give up until they believe you are destroyed, but I will not be destroyed; you will not be destroyed. Let us move forward,” he said.
The FCT minister further expressed confidence that any attempt by what he described as “vampires” to hijack the party’s structure across the 36 states and the FCT would collapse like a house of cards.
He urged the party to lean on its internal strength and experience, noting that the PDP has capable legal and organisational hands who can steer it through troubled waters.
“We have a competent legal adviser. We have a competent national organising secretary. Experience matters. When we combine our collective experience, the results will speak for themselves,” Wike said.
He thanked NEC members for honouring the meeting at short notice and encouraged them to stay the course in repositioning the PDP as Nigeria’s leading opposition party.
Wike added that the party was now awaiting clear directives from the caretaker committee, particularly on the conduct of the long-overdue congresses, which he described as “critical steps” towards organising a credible national convention.
