The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has cautioned against attempts to use him or his office as a bargaining tool in the ongoing crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Wike, who voiced his concerns on Friday in Abuja during a meeting with Concerned PDP Stakeholders, lamented what he described as the internal destruction of the party and called for a return to due process and respect for the rule of law.
His comments followed the ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which halted the party’s planned national convention scheduled for 15–16 November in Ibadan, Oyo State. Justice James Omotosho had restrained the PDP from proceeding with the convention after three aggrieved members challenged its legality.
Addressing party stakeholders, Wike warned against any attempt to hijack the PDP’s leadership or compromise its democratic principles.
“Let me be clear — nobody, and I mean nobody, will use us to negotiate for anything,” the minister declared. “We are part of this party; we have sacrificed for it. But we will not allow anybody to trade us off for personal gain.
“Those of us fighting today are not doing so for ourselves. We are doing it because we want the PDP to stand for something — for due process, fairness, and respect for law,” he added.
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Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and prominent figure within the PDP, reiterated his loyalty to the party but urged its leaders to prioritise internal democracy and transparency. He warned that continued disregard for due process could deepen the party’s divisions and weaken its prospects in future elections.
The meeting, attended by several concerned stakeholders, ended with calls for reconciliation and adherence to the court’s directives pending further legal clarification on the suspended convention.
