The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has rejected reports of a planned elective convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday, Wike said he was not aware of such a convention, stressing that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) had not met to approve it.
“Have they given a date for Ibadan? I don’t know. When has the party’s NEC sat? When did they agree on that? The one they said is NEC is not NEC; NEC has not met. In fact, we are meeting tomorrow. NEC has not met,” he declared.
The former Rivers State governor, a central figure in the party’s lingering crisis since its 2022 presidential primary, vowed to challenge the move alongside his allies, warning that they would not allow any “injustice” or “impunity” to prevail.
Wike, who lost the PDP presidential ticket to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, had earlier said the internal crisis in the opposition party was “over” following Atiku’s defeat in the 2023 election. However, he insisted that the PDP could not proceed with a national convention unless the outcome of the South-South zonal congress in Calabar—where his loyalists emerged as leaders—was recognised.
Asked if he was planning a parallel convention, Wike said: “I am not aware that they are going for a convention in Ibadan. As a NEC member, I have not been told, and nobody has invited me for a NEC meeting. If no notice of meeting has been served on me as a member of NEC, I have every right to challenge that, and no one can deny me my rights.”
On whether his group would head to court, the FCT Minister replied: “Our group is meeting tomorrow (Wednesday). Obviously, we will not allow that injustice to prevail. We will not allow that impunity.”
Wike also addressed speculation about his political loyalty ahead of the 2027 elections, saying he would only support a candidate who has Nigeria’s interest at heart, regardless of party lines.
“I will support somebody who I know will make Nigeria grow, somebody who has the interest of Nigeria. I don’t believe in sentiments,” he stated.
When pressed on whether this could amount to anti-party activity, similar to the stance of the G-5 governors in 2023, Wike argued: “Being a party man does not mean I will not support someone that has helped this country. Because I am a party man, you just want the country to start going backwards?”
