Undermine Wike at Your Peril, PDP Faction Warns APC Govs

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has warned APC governors against underestimating his political influence.

The faction said attempts to undermine Wike could carry political consequences for governors ahead of the 2027 elections.

Its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, issued the warning in a statement on Tuesday night.

Mohammed was reacting to the growing disagreement between Wike and some governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The dispute became public after Wike accused Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma and Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of working against him.

Wike alleged that AbdulRazaq accused him of sponsoring politicians against the governor’s preferred candidates in Kwara.

The FCT minister, however, said the governor should appreciate his role in providing political space for aggrieved APC members.

According to Wike, some of those politicians left the APC and found a platform within the PDP.

His comments about Uzodimma were less detailed but equally direct.

Wike recalled the support he had given the Imo governor, despite Uzodimma previously declining to support him.

The disagreement later prompted the Progressive Governors Forum to reject Wike’s Rainbow Coalition.

The governors said they would not support political arrangements capable of weakening the APC.

They also rejected any platform that could create competing interests within the ruling party.

Wike subsequently responded by clarifying the focus of his political activities.

He said his priority was President Bola Tinubu’s re-election rather than helping APC governors retain their seats.

Reacting to the development, Mohammed said the governors should stop treating Wike as their political problem.

“Wike is a force to reckon with, not a force to reject,” he said.

He argued that the governors’ political fortunes would ultimately depend on their records and public support.

“Wike is not their problem. Their governance record, their performance and the confidence or lack of confidence of their people are what will determine their political fate in 2027,” Mohammed said.

The PDP faction also rejected the suggestion that Wike’s support for Tinubu amounted to support for the APC.

Mohammed said the minister could support the President while maintaining his political identity within the PDP.

He described such support as a legitimate political choice available to Wike.

The faction also insisted that the PDP would participate fully in the 2027 elections.

“The PDP will not be intimidated into abandoning the electoral field,” Mohammed said.

He added that the party would field candidates and mobilise Nigerians ahead of the elections.

According to Mohammed, the APC governors’ opposition to Wike reflects concern about facing strong opposition candidates.

He said governors confident about their performance should welcome competition and allow voters to decide.

The faction further argued that elections remain contests between competing political parties and candidates.

It therefore rejected calls for Wike to refrain from supporting candidates against APC governors and their preferred successors.

Mohammed said the PDP had stabilised and could field candidates capable of challenging APC candidates across elective positions.

He also cited Wike’s political experience as evidence of his organisational and mobilisation capacity.

Wike served as governor of Rivers State before becoming Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

Mohammed said his experience in both positions had strengthened his political network and influence.

He urged the APC Governors Forum to focus instead on governance, accountability and performance.

The PDP spokesman also questioned whether the governors were more concerned about Tinubu’s victory or their own political interests.

He argued that governors seeking the President’s re-election should welcome credible political forces supporting that objective.

The faction maintained that Wike’s political activities would remain separate from the PDP’s decision to contest elections.

It also insisted that every political party has the right to present candidates before the electorate.