The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday has rejected the reported opposition of the All Progressives Congress Governors’ Forum to Nyesom Wike’s political support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, insisting that the former Rivers State governor remains free to support any candidate of his choice.
The PDP, in statement shared on X, said Wike’s backing of Tinubu did not amount to an endorsement of the APC or an end to his relationship with the opposition party.
The statement, signed by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, said the APC governors had misunderstood Wike’s political position and were now attempting to limit his influence ahead of the 2027 elections.
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The party maintained that Wike, who serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, had every constitutional and democratic right to decide whom he supports politically.
It said his appointment by Tinubu did not prevent him from retaining his political identity or maintaining relationships within the PDP.
Party rejects restrictions on 2027 candidates
The PDP also rejected the APC governors’ reported demand that Wike should not support or field candidates capable of challenging them and their preferred candidates in the 2027 elections.
The opposition party said elections were contests in which political parties had the right to present candidates for voters to choose.
It accused the APC governors of becoming anxious about the possibility of facing strong PDP candidates at the polls.
“The APC Governors’ Forum should understand that Wike is not their problem; their problem is their poor governance and failure to meet the expectations of their people. Wike has every constitutional and democratic right to decide whom he supports politically. His support for President Tinubu is legitimate, and as a serving appointee of the President, there is nothing contradictory about supporting the President while maintaining his political identity and relationships within the PDP,” the party said.
The PDP claimed that its political structure had stabilised and that it had successfully fielded candidates for elective positions who could challenge APC governors and their preferred candidates in 2027.
The party also questioned why governors who had previously expressed confidence in their performance would oppose the presence of strong opponents at the polls.
“If they have truly performed and retained the confidence of their people, they should welcome a contest and allow the electorate to decide,” it said.
The PDP maintained that Wike’s political support could not simply be dismissed, given his experience in political organisation and electoral mobilisation.
It also referred to his record as Rivers State governor and his work as FCT minister, citing project delivery and political organisation as areas in which he had demonstrated capacity.
PDP challenges governors on governance
The opposition party asked the APC Governors’ Forum to concentrate on governance, accountability and the management of public funds instead of attempting to decide whom Wike should support.
It specifically asked the governors to account for the resources their states receive through the Federation Account Allocation Committee, known as FAAC.
The PDP also called on them to ensure that local governments receive the funds due to them without undue interference.
The party said Wike should not be treated as a liability to Tinubu’s political project. It described him as a political asset with the ability to mobilise support for the President’s campaign.
“Are they interested in President Tinubu’s victory, or are they primarily interested in securing their own personal political victories?” the PDP asked.
It said any governor who genuinely wanted Tinubu to win should welcome credible political figures capable of contributing to that outcome.
The party further maintained that rejecting Wike’s support would not guarantee electoral success, citing previous attempts to disregard his influence.
The PDP said the electorate would ultimately determine the political fate of candidates in 2027 through their votes.
“Those who have performed will present their records, while those who have failed will face the judgment of the electorate,” it said.
The party declared that it would not abandon the electoral contest because of pressure from the APC Governors’ Forum.
It pledged to field credible candidates, mobilise Nigerians and present an alternative to voters in the 2027 elections.
The PDP concluded its message by insisting that Wike should be treated as a political force that cannot be dismissed, adding that its candidates would face the electorate at the appropriate time.
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