The Peoples Democratic Party has accused governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress of being apprehensive about the political influence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The PDP, in a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, said the reported opposition of the APC Governors’ Forum to Wike’s political support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was driven by fear of electoral defeat and concerns over the governors’ records in office.
The party said Wike was not the problem confronting the APC governors, arguing that their governance records and their ability to retain the confidence of the electorate would ultimately determine their political fortunes in 2027.
“Wike is not their problem; their problem is their poor governance and failure to meet the expectations of their people,” the PDP said.
The opposition party maintained that Wike had the constitutional and democratic right to determine whom he would support politically, stressing that his decision to back Tinubu did not amount to an abandonment of the PDP or an automatic endorsement of the APC.
According to the party, the APC governors initially misconstrued Wike’s support for the President as support for the ruling party but were now realising that backing Tinubu did not necessarily mean surrendering political space to the APC.
The PDP described as “a fundamental political miscalculation” any attempt by the APC Governors’ Forum to prevent Wike from supporting or fielding candidates capable of challenging APC candidates in the 2027 elections.
“Elections are contests, and every political party has the democratic right to present candidates before the electorate,” the party said.
The PDP further argued that the reported concerns of the APC governors over Wike’s political activities demonstrated anxiety within the ruling party over the prospect of facing strong opposition candidates in the forthcoming elections.
It said the PDP had continued to reposition itself and field candidates capable of challenging APC candidates across elective positions.
The party also challenged the governors who claimed to have performed well in office to welcome electoral contests rather than seek to restrict their opponents.
“It is particularly revealing that governors who earlier claimed to be confident of their performance are now asking their opponents not to field candidates against them,” the statement said.
“If they have truly performed and retained the confidence of their people, they should welcome a contest and allow the electorate to decide.”
The PDP said Wike’s political influence could not simply be wished away, citing his previous experience as governor of Rivers State and his current role as FCT minister as evidence of his capacity for political organisation, mobilisation and project delivery.
The party consequently questioned the rationale behind any attempt by politicians supporting President Tinubu to reject Wike’s contribution to the President’s re-election bid.
“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 PDP said.
It asked the APC Governors’ Forum to clarify whether its priority was securing President Tinubu’s victory in 2027 or protecting the individual political interests of its members.
“A governor who truly wants the President to win should welcome every credible political force capable of contributing to that victory,” the party added.
The PDP also urged the governors to focus on governance, accountability and the utilisation of resources accruing to their respective states through the Federation Account Allocation Committee.
It particularly called on them to ensure that local governments received funds due to them without undue interference.
The party described Wike as an “asset” and “mobiliser” capable of contributing significantly to President Tinubu’s electoral fortunes, while insisting that Nigerians would ultimately determine the fate of political actors through their votes.
“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 PDP said.
The party warned the APC governors against underestimating Wike’s political capacity, declaring: “Chief Barrister Nyesom Wike is a force to reckon with, not a force to reject.”
The PDP vowed that it would not be intimidated into abandoning the electoral field, saying it would field credible candidates, mobilise Nigerians and offer the electorate an alternative ahead of the 2027 elections.
The latest development comes amid growing political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 polls, with Wike’s support for Tinubu and his continued political activities generating debate over the implications for both the ruling APC and the opposition PDP.
NATIONAL PANEL reports that the recent reports have also highlighted concerns within APC circles over the possibility of Wike-linked political forces supporting candidates outside the ruling party while backing Tinubu at the presidential level.
