George Turnah, Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the South-South zone, has defended FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s endorsement of President Bola Tinubu, insisting that the minister is exercising his democratic rights within the party.
Speaking on The Morning Brief on Channels Television on Monday, February 2, Turnah stressed that Wike is a national leader of the PDP and not the head of any faction.
“Wike does not lead a group. He is a national leader of the PDP, and as a member of the party, he has his own fundamental rights.
“One of those rights is his right of choice, and that is why it’s a democracy, and that is why political parties must operate internally on the foundations of democratic principles,” Turnah said.
He clarified that Wike has never imposed his political decisions on the party or any subgroup, even when he led the G5 governors during the 2023 elections.
“Recall that Wike has never at any point come out to make declarations, either on behalf of PDP or even on behalf of the G5 governors that he was very pronounced to be their leader.
“The group never said it was going to support Mr A or Mr B. Wike has consistently said he would support Mr President,” Turnah explained.
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He further cited past examples of internal differences to illustrate the party’s tolerance for individual choices.
“Let me even take you to 2023, where Wike led the G5 governors. Even within the G5 governors, the then governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, did not go with Wike in support of President Tinubu. He chose to support Peter Obi. That is within the G5 governors,” he said.
Turnah emphasised that internal democracy requires respect for personal political decisions.
“So this thing about Wike saying he will support President Tinubu, and therefore all of us who associate with him and even himself must now be cast out of the PDP, that is not the principle of internal democracy.
“The principle is that you will allow Wike to have his say that he’s going to support the President and allow the majority of the party to have their way,” Turnah concluded.
This statement comes as the PDP navigates internal divisions ahead of the 2027 elections, with differing endorsements among its leaders prompting debate over party unity.