Samuel Omang
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has mocked governors and political leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who once criticised him, saying they have now defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) — the same party they accused him of secretly working for.
Speaking on Wednesday at the flag-off of the main carriageways construction on the Outer Southern Expressway in Abuja, Wike said the spate of defections among opposition figures has vindicated his political stance and loyalty to President Bola Tinubu.
“I’ve been watching television and social media — people who said I wanted to destabilise the PDP, that I was working for the APC. Today, all of them are in the APC,” Wike said. “If that is true, then they should commend me for doing a good job in preparing the way for them.”
In the past 48 hours, the PDP has lost two more governors to the ruling APC. Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State announced his defection on Tuesday, citing national interest and support for President Tinubu’s leadership. Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri followed suit on Wednesday, defecting alongside 19 members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.
Their exit reduces the number of PDP governors from 11 in October 2024 to just eight, deepening concerns over the opposition’s declining influence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike, who served as Rivers State governor for eight years before joining Tinubu’s cabinet, said the defections were a testament to the President’s “decisive and visionary leadership”, which, according to him, has brought financial stability to states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“When I was governor, I ran from bank to bank to raise money for projects. Sometimes, what came from the federation account wasn’t enough to pay salaries,” he recalled. “But today, because of decisive leadership, states are no longer chasing banks — it’s the banks that are chasing states.”
The minister added that under the Tinubu administration, no governor could now claim to lack funds or leave behind debts for successors.
“If, for that reason, people are supporting Mr President, I think it’s worthwhile. What this country needs is purposeful, visionary leadership — the kind that takes tough decisions when others shy away,” he said.
With more PDP governors crossing over to the APC, Wike’s comments appear to underscore his growing influence within the ruling party — and his long-running claim that his political choices were driven by conviction, not betrayal.