• Faults Governors’ Forum On Appointment Of Acting Secretary
• Says He Wanted Outright Removal Of Fubara, Not State Of Emergency
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Friday declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not ready for the 2027 elections. He also faulted the appointment of an acting national secretary by PDP Governors Forum for the party.
The minister disclosed that he was not happy that a state of emergency was declared in Rivers State when Governor Siminalayi Fubara could have been impeached instead.
Wike, who spoke during his monthly media chat in Abuja, noted that the PDP Governors’ Forum is not an organ of the party and as such lacks the powers to fix a date for the National Convention let alone appointing a committee to decide on zoning.
He said: “As of today, the PDP is not ready for the 2027 general election. That is very obvious. It’s like a student claiming to be studying, yet doing nothing in the library. You are not preparing; you are just pretending to. And people can see it.
“This is not about whether you like me or not. That’s irrelevant. The real issue is: Is what I’m saying correct? All the internal power struggles won’t help us. Since I lost the 2022 presidential primary and wasn’t chosen as a vice-presidential candidate, people say I’ve been bitter. No! I simply made the decision that suited me and others made theirs. Let them face the consequences of their decisions and I’ll face mine.”
Wike noted that none of the groups in the PDP, whether those pushing for a coalition or those insisting that the party heads into the election alone are being honest with themselves.
“It all boils down to personal interest. Will I support the PDP in 2027? If they continue like this, then no! I don’t play hide and seek. If they don’t put their house in order, they will lose. As for APC, it’s not about joining or supporting them. My focus is on principle and performance.
“Some say my stance amounts to anti-party activity. But I’ve always told the truth. I told the PDP leadership that their actions were wrong. If you ignore internal crises, they will consume the party. That’s what’s happening,” Wike said.
He added: “Let me start with those rejecting the idea of a coalition. They are not being sincere to themselves or to the party. I remember when a particular leader was interviewed, and after watching it, I called Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo – he’s my friend – and told him, ‘what you said wasn’t the truth, and you know it.”
He lamented that the mistake the party made in 2023 was being repeated, a development he said would destroy the party’s political interests in 2027. His words: “Back in 2023, one of the main reasons the PDP lost was impunity. People believed that some individuals had all the power, and we disrespected our party’s constitution, especially on power sharing. That mistake hurt us deeply. Now, the same pattern is repeating itself with impunity from the Governors’ Forum.
“The governors’ forum is not an official organ of the party. It’s just a group that can influence decisions, but it cannot replace the National Working Committee (NWC). You can’t assume supreme powers just because you are a governor.
“Even when I was a governor, we didn’t try to act as if we were the party’s leadership. We could influence, yes; but never impose decisions or act unilaterally. For example, governors cannot appoint an acting national secretary when there is already an elected one. That’s beyond their authority.
“The national secretary was elected at a convention, not appointed. If there is a need to replace anyone, it must go through the proper process – another convention. Governors don’t have the power to form zoning committees either. That lies with the party structure.
“This is what causes problems. You can’t break the rules and then expect peace. The same mistakes we made before, we are repeating again. And then we will turn around and say, ‘we were rigged out.’ But we are the ones rigging ourselves out by creating internal crises.”
Wike noted that he would not support dishonesty, whether in the name of forming a coalition or standing alone, adding: “What we need now is true cohesion in the party.”
On the state of emergency in Rivers State, the minister also disclosed that he had preferred outright removal of Siminalayi Fubara from office through the process of impeachment to the state of emergency, which he noted, was a great favour done by the President for which Fubara should be grateful. He said although he was not happy as a politician, he accepted it because the President used it to save the state from calamity.
Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers on March 18, 2025, suspending Fubara, his deputy and the legislature and appointing an administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd).
“As a politician, I am not happy about the state of emergency in Rivers State. I wanted the outright removal of Governor Fubara. The president, by declaring a state of emergency, saved Fubara.
“The governor was gone. He was gone, yes! So, when people say the president did this, I say they should be praising him. Every morning, they should go to the president and ask, ‘Can we wash your feet for saving us?’”
Wike disclosed that he took a lot of measures to pacify members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who were equally unhappy about the state of emergency.
The minister expressed disappointment that neither the governor nor those supporting him have taken any measure to facilitate the return of peace in Rivers State since the state went into emergency rule last month.
