PDP warns APC governors against rejecting Wike’s support for Tinubu
By Waliu Adetokun, Osogbo
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum against rejecting Nyesom Wike’s political support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing such a move as contradictory to the President’s victory bid.
The party said Wike’s support for Tinubu was legitimate, stressing that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory had the constitutional and democratic right to decide whom he would support politically.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, the PDP urged the APC governors to concentrate on governance and their performance in office rather than attempting to dictate Wike’s political choices.
“Wike has every constitutional and democratic right to decide whom he supports politically. His support for President Tinubu is legitimate,” the party said.
The PDP said the APC governors had initially interpreted Wike’s support for Tinubu as an endorsement of the APC but were now realising that supporting the President did not amount to abandoning the PDP.
It also described any attempt to prevent Wike from supporting or fielding candidates capable of challenging APC governors and their preferred candidates in the 2027 elections as a political miscalculation.
“Elections are contests, and every political party has the democratic right to present candidates before the electorate,” the PDP said.
The opposition party alleged that the reported opposition to Wike’s support was motivated by fear that the performance of some APC governors could be subjected to scrutiny during the 2027 elections.
“Their opposition to Wike’s support is driven by fear. The fear that their poor records of performance will be exposed at the polls,” it said.
The PDP maintained that it had stabilised and was prepared to field credible candidates across elective positions ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party also questioned why governors who were confident in their performance would be concerned about their opponents fielding candidates against them.
“If they have truly performed and retained the confidence of their people, they should welcome a contest and allow the electorate to decide,” the party said.
The PDP further pointed to Wike’s political experience and mobilisation capacity, citing his tenure as governor of Rivers State and his current position as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The party argued that rejecting Wike’s political support while claiming to work for President Tinubu’s victory would be contradictory.
“It is therefore politically irrational for anyone claiming to support the President to reject a political leader of Wike’s stature and the votes and mobilisation capacity he can bring to the President’s campaign,” the statement said.
The PDP urged the APC Governors’ Forum to focus on governance, accountability and performance rather than attempting to determine whom Wike should support.
It also called on the governors to account for the resources accruing to their states through the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and ensure that local governments receive funds due to them without undue interference.
Describing Wike as “an asset, a mobiliser and a force capable of contributing significantly to electoral victory,” the PDP said Nigerians would ultimately determine the fate of political candidates through their votes in 2027.
“At the appropriate time, Nigerians will decide with their votes. Those who have performed will present their records, while those who have failed will face the judgment of the electorate,” the party said.
The PDP said it would not be intimidated into abandoning the electoral contest, adding that it would field credible candidates and mobilise Nigerians ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The message to the APC Governors’ Forum is simple: Chief Barrister Nyesom Wike is a force to reckon with, not a force to reject. Those who underestimate his capacity do so at their own political peril,” the party said.