A senior member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tony Ehilebo, has blamed the lingering internal crisis within the opposition party on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, accusing him of actions that have weakened party cohesion since the 2022 presidential primary.
Ehilebo alleged that Wike’s dissatisfaction with the outcome of the PDP presidential primary—won by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar—has continued to fuel divisions within the party.
According to Ehilebo, Wike’s grievances following the 2022 contest influenced his political choices during the 2023 general election, including his open support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He argued that such conduct fell short of the standards expected from a senior figure who rose through the ranks of the PDP.
Ehilebo cautioned the FCT minister to consider how his actions would be judged by history, noting that the PDP had played a significant role in Wike’s political rise. He said prolonged disputes and legal battles involving party leadership had further eroded the PDP’s credibility as a strong opposition platform.
The PDP chieftain also alleged that Wike’s influence contributed to the defection of key figures, including former vice-presidential candidate Peter Obi and Minister of Works Dave Umahi, claiming that internal power struggles and control of party structures discouraged internal democracy.
He maintained that while Wike has remained politically influential, his continued involvement in disputes has undermined the party’s ability to effectively challenge the federal government. Ehilebo stressed that opposition parties have a responsibility to provide checks and balances in a democratic system.
The internal rift within the PDP dates back to the aftermath of the party’s 2022 presidential primary, where Wike argued that the presidential ticket should have been zoned to the South. Reconciliation efforts involving Wike and other aggrieved leaders later collapsed, leading to the formation of the G-5 group, which supported the APC during the 2023 presidential election.
President Bola Tinubu eventually won the election and later appointed Wike as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Although Wike was reportedly expelled during a PDP convention last year—a decision later nullified—he has continued to insist that he remains a member of the party. He has also publicly declared support for Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, while maintaining that the PDP is still politically relevant.
