PDP Faction Rejects Wike’s Call to Back Tinubu’s Re-election in 2027

A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected calls by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for PDP members to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

The faction described Wike’s position as a political anomaly, insisting that genuine members of the opposition party would not support the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government.

The party’s position was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, who dismissed the minister’s appeal as an attempt to advance the interests of the ruling party.

The faction maintained that Wike’s directive was not intended for genuine PDP members but for individuals it accused of pretending to belong to the opposition while working for the governing party.

“The news credited to Minister Nyesom Wike that PDP candidates should collapse their structures and support the re-election of President Bola Tinubu is nothing new, except for the fact that his message is not directed at real PDP members,” the statement read.

“The message is meant for persons who, like him, are pretenders in the opposition but are working for the governing party.”

The faction further criticised what it described as the self-serving support for the APC-led administration, arguing that the responsibility of opposition parties was to provide Nigerians with an alternative to the incumbent government.

“The true and principled members of the Peoples Democratic Party are not part of the shameless, self-serving support for the APC-led Federal Government and its destructive policies,” the statement added.

It also rejected the idea of an opposition arrangement that would support the ruling party, insisting that any genuine political alliance should be between opposition parties.

“The paramount duty of the opposition is to provide an alternative to the incumbent, not to massage their ego. If at all opposition parties are to have an alliance, it will be amongst themselves, not with the governing party,” Ememobong said.

The faction described the proposed arrangement, which it said had been presented as a “rainbow coalition,” as a threat to electoral democracy.

“This political anomaly, styled and championed as a ‘rainbow coalition,’ is the greatest threat to electoral democracy and the fastest way of railroading the country into an electoral monarchy,” the statement read.

On the lingering leadership crisis within the PDP, the faction expressed confidence that the judiciary would rule in its favour, disclosing that its case before the Court of Appeal had been heard and that it was awaiting judgment.

It urged its supporters to remain steadfast while the court determines the dispute over the party’s leadership.

“We urge all true and faithful members of the Peoples Democratic Party to remain steadfast as we await the judiciary’s decision, hopeful that it will return our party to its true owners,” the statement said.

The faction also warned Nigerians against what it described as elite accommodation and state capture disguised as broad-based political collaboration.

It urged voters to use the 2027 general election to remove political leaders it accused of being insensitive and irresponsible.

“Nigerians should be wary of elite accommodation and state capture masquerading as broad-based political collaboration. The election next year provides a great opportunity to vote out these insensitive and irresponsible political actors,” Ememobong concluded.