The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, has launched a scathing attack on the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), blaming them for the party’s deepening crisis and warning that their actions are creating a “one-party state” in Nigeria.
Speaking during his end-of-year media briefing in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the former PDP governor placed the responsibility for the party’s shrinking electoral fortunes squarely on what he termed “selfish ambition, poor leadership, and refusal to heed advice.”
“The internal mismanagement of the PDP, rather than any external interference, is responsible for where we are today,” Wike stated. “Something that would have been easily solved was allowed to destroy the party.”
A Party in Disarray: No Candidates, No Unity
Wike pointed to specific states where the party’s internal conflicts have had crippling consequences, leaving it without a viable structure or candidates for crucial elections.
“Today, PDP has no candidate in Ekiti State. PDP has no candidate in Osun State. Who caused it?” he asked rhetorically, highlighting the tangible outcomes of the leadership’s “reckless decisions.”
The Irony of a Self-Made “One-Party State”
The FCT Minister delivered his most pointed criticism on the concept of a one-party state, a scenario often raised by opposition figures as a threat from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a stark reversal, Wike argued that the PDP leadership is itself engineering this outcome through its actions.
“You are the one creating a one-party state, yet you are accusing the government of wanting a one-party state. It doesn’t make sense,” he declared.
This accusation frames the PDP’s internal strife not just as a party problem, but as a failure with direct consequences for Nigeria’s democratic health.
A Call Amidst Crisis
Wike’s remarks are the latest and among the most direct from a senior party figure, laying bare the severe fractures within the PDP since its loss in the 2023 general elections and the subsequent internal battles for control.
The media briefing served as a public airing of grievances that have been simmering for months, signaling that the party’s path to reconciliation remains fraught with significant obstacles.
As of now, the national leadership of the PDP has not issued an official response to the minister’s allegations.
