Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has attributed the mass defection of 16 Rivers State lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the deep internal divisions that have crippled the party.
Speaking with journalists on Friday, December 5, after inspecting the ongoing Maitama–Gishiri–Jahi–Gwarimpa interchange bridge project in Abuja, Wike said the lawmakers’ exit was “unfortunate but understandable” given the level of disunity within the PDP.
His remarks came hours after Speaker Amaewhule and 16 other members of the Rivers State House of Assembly announced at plenary that they were joining the APC, citing “a clear division” in the PDP as justification.
Reacting, Wike acknowledged that the defectors acted within their constitutional rights, arguing that their decision was a symptom of the PDP’s larger leadership failure.
“Well, it’s unfortunate. I have always said that everybody has the right to make a choice. The party is fully factionalised. And the requirement of the Constitution is that when a party is factionalised, they are allowed to leave the party,” he said.
He noted that not all lawmakers had left the PDP, confirming that about 10 remained in the party.
“You will see that it’s not everybody who has left. I believe 16 or 17 of them have left out of 27. We still have a good number, about 10, and we will continue to work together. They never told me, but they have a right,” Wike said.
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The former Rivers governor emphasised that he remains loyal to the PDP and said he and the remaining members would continue to strengthen the party in the state.
“I’m still in the PDP. So those who have remained, we’ll continue to work together. And I have said to the party, put your house in order. Because at the end of the day, if you don’t put your house in order, it’s the party that will lose,” Wike said.
He urged party leaders at all levels to end the ongoing internal crises before the PDP risks becoming irrelevant as an opposition force.
“And we still ask the party to work together to see how the remaining members will be a relevant opposition. But they chose not to.
“So for me, those who have left are free. But those who remain in the party, we will continue to work together,” he added.
Wike’s comments highlight the worsening factional divide within the PDP, which has continued to lose key members since the 2023 elections.
His call comes as the party leadership faces pressure to rebuild unity amid growing defections and political realignments across the country.