Deborah Akinyosoye
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced his intention to lead the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign during the 2027 presidential election.
Wike made the declaration during a media parley in Abuja on Monday, where he responded to accusations of undermining the PDP while serving in the cabinet of President Bola Tinubu, an opposition party member.
“I am still in PDP. I worked hard for the party,” Wike asserted. “I have not seen anybody who has the guts to tell me, ‘Wike, you are not a member of the party.’ Who is that? What is his contribution to the party that is more than me?
“No one will take me from the party. I’m a member. In fact, I’ll lead the PDP campaign in Rivers by 2027.”
The former Rivers State governor’s comments come amid tensions within the PDP, where some members have accused him of betrayal and sabotaging the party over his involvement with the President Bola Tinubu administration.
Wike, during the interview, said he finds satisfaction in challenging powerful interests, particularly in his current role as FCT Minister.
He said, “Look at what we are doing differently. People have said that FCT was not working (but) now it is working which means I’m doing things that they (past FCT ministers) refused to do.
“I found out that most of them didn’t have the courage to annoy people, to step on toes but I take joy when I step on the toes of big men; those who say nothing will happen but I say something will happen. It makes me happy.
“All they want me to do is to make decisions against poor people saying nothing will happen to them but I say something will happen. That is why we making results. If you don’t do the right thing, too bad. I don’t care.”
On the political crisis in Rivers State, Wike denied any personal conflict with Governor Siminalayi Fubara and said he would not have supported the declaration of a state of emergency in the state had President Tinubu consulted him.
“I don’t have any crisis with Fubara. I am not the president who declared the state of emergency. If Mr. President had called me that time, I wouldn’t have agreed on a state of emergency.”