The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has boldly declared he remains a bonafide member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and his intention to lead President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reelection campaign, despite being a card-carrying member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The former Rivers State governor, known for his fiery rhetoric and unorthodox political maneuvers, did not mince words as he addressed what many see as a contradiction in party loyalty.
Wike made this controversial declaration during a live media chat on Channels Television on Monday evening, a session closely monitored by WesternMirror.com.ng.
As 2027 draws close on Nigeria’s political landscape, Wike confirmed his intention to lead President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign in Rivers State, a move that has ignited a storm of criticism.
Wike has declared his allegiance not to the next PDP presidential candidate but to the incumbent, Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). “I have told you this before,” Wike said.
“Are you not aware I will lead his campaign in Rivers State?”
Wike’s public declaration is unprecedented in Nigeria’s political history: a high-ranking opposition leader openly working for the re-election of a sitting president from a rival party.
His support for Tinubu dates back to the 2023 general elections, when he broke ranks with the PDP’s presidential ticket in protest of internal power tussles.
Despite remaining a PDP member on paper, Wike’s actions continue to send conflicting signals. “I am still in the PDP,” he insisted on Monday.
“I worked hard for the party. I have not seen anybody who will have the guts to tell me, ‘Wike, you are not a member.’”
Yet critics within his own party say that’s exactly what needs to happen.
Former Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido minced no words last week, calling Wike a “disaster” and vowing to boycott all PDP meetings until he is expelled.
“Wike was made by the PDP, celebrated by the party, and now he’s destroying it,” Lamido said.
His sentiments reflect a growing frustration within the PDP’s ranks, where Wike is perceived by many as an insider-turned-agent of destabilisation.
Timothy Osadolor, a member of the party’s National Executive Committee, said Wike’s behavior reflects a troubling lack of principle.
“If you claim to belong to a political party but consistently act in ways that favour its opponents, it says a lot about who you are,” Osadolor noted.
Wike’s falling-out with the PDP leadership dates back to the party’s 2022 presidential primary, where he lost the nomination and was passed over for the vice-presidential slot.
This prompted a political rebellion that culminated in the formation of the G5, a group of dissenting PDP governors who opposed the leadership of then-party chairman Iyorchia Ayu.
Following the PDP’s failure to reconcile with the group, Wike openly backed Tinubu, eventually receiving the coveted FCT ministerial appointment in return.
Now, with increasing control over the capital’s affairs and a firm grip on Rivers State, Wike is seen by many analysts as a political force repositioning for a post-Tinubu Nigeria.
“He’s already plotting for 2031,” said Dr. Sam Amadi, Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thought. “He wants the PDP to stay comatose until he can revive it as a bargaining tool to become vice president.”
While Wike’s critics say the case for disciplinary action is clear, the party has yet to take formal steps to sanction or expel him. Alhaji Umar Sani, a PDP chieftain, called Wike’s justifications “deeply flawed” and accused him of manipulating legal interpretations for personal gain.
“He dares anyone to challenge him, and no one in the PDP leadership has the courage to do so,” Sani said. “This is the rot we are dealing with.”
Amid the internal chaos, President Tinubu emerges as the likely beneficiary of Wike’s cross-party loyalty. Wike has predicted a dramatic turnaround in the president’s electoral fortunes in the Federal Capital Territory, where Tinubu received under 10 percent of the vote in 2023.
“Are you not aware that he did not get up to 10 per cent here in the FCT? But he will win here,” Wike said confidently.
As 2027 draws closer, the paradox of Nyesom Wike—an opposition powerbroker openly working to re-elect the ruling president—may not only reshape Rivers State politics, but also determine the fate of Nigeria’s fragmented opposition.