Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, on Friday, attributed the recent defection of the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and 15 lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the deepening internal crisis within the PDP.
Speaking with journalists after inspecting ongoing road projects in Abuja, Wike said the defections reflected the level of factionalisation in the party.
He noted that although the lawmakers did not inform him before their move, they acted within their constitutional rights.
“It’s unfortunate. I have always said everybody has the right to make a choice. The party is fully factionalized. And the Constitution requires that when a party is factionalized, members are allowed to leave,” he said.
Despite the situation, Wike insisted he remains in the PDP.
“I’m still in the PDP. You will see that it’s not everybody who has left. I believe 16 or 17 of them have left out of 27. We still have a good number, about 10, and we will continue to work together,” he stated.
Wike urged the PDP leadership to urgently address its internal issues, warning that prolonged disunity would diminish the party’s cohesion and political relevance.
“At the end of the day, if you don’t put your house in order, it is the party that is losing,” he said.
He also dismissed reports that he had been arrested in France, describing the claims as politically motivated distractions.
“People would like to distract you. But the moment you are focused, you know what you are doing, you will not be perturbed,” he said, recalling previous false claims about his health and whereabouts. “Last time they said I was sick and flown overseas. This time, they said I was arrested in France. I’m doing my job.”
Wike said his focus remains on delivering on the mandate assigned to him by the President, stressing that continued performance will silence critics.
“As long as my boss, who is the President, is happy with what I am doing, and I am focused on delivering the mandate, people will say all kinds of things,” he said.
The minister noted that infrastructural delivery across the FCT remains a priority and urged residents to support the Federal Government.
He expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work on ongoing road projects, saying many contractors were working ahead of funding due to their confidence in the administration.
“This will decongest the traffic situation leading to Gwarinpa Estate,” he added.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
