Wike Criticises Defectors, Compares Them to Peter Obi at PDP Convention

|By Adejumo Adekunle

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has criticised politicians who defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), comparing them to former presidential candidate Peter Obi.

Wike made the remarks on Sunday during a national convention organised by his faction of the PDP, where he argued that frequent defections reflect a lack of leadership capacity.

According to him, Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party, failed to demonstrate leadership during internal challenges within the party.

“The former candidate of the Labour Party wanted to be president. The party gave him the platform, but when a crisis came, he was expected to show leadership. Instead, he left because he could not solve the problem,” Wike said.

He added that politicians who abandon their parties during crises exhibit similar traits, insisting that leadership requires the ability to confront and resolve internal challenges rather than walk away.

The convention held by Wike’s faction proceeded despite ongoing legal disputes at the Supreme Court over an earlier Appeal Court ruling that nullified the Oyo convention organised by another PDP faction led by Kabiru Turaki and backed by Bala Mohammed and Seyi Makinde.

Wike has also maintained his position that the PDP may not field a presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections, signalling support instead for the second-term ambition of Bola Tinubu, under whose administration he currently serves as FCT Minister.

His comments further highlight the deepening divisions within the PDP as the party navigates internal crises ahead of the next election cycle.