In a push for opposition reconciliation, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has called on the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to engage defected members and explore ways to bring them back.
Speaking at the party’s 108th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at its national secretariat in Abuja, Wike reaffirmed his long-standing loyalty to the PDP, stating that he has remained a committed member since 1998 and has no intention of leaving.
“Since 1998 till now, I have been a member of PDP, and I will not leave the party,” he said.
Wike also congratulated the newly constituted National Working Committee (NWC), led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, on its emergence at the party’s last national convention. He commended what he described as a decisive move by the leadership to reclaim the party’s national secretariat for official functions, arguing that the development reinforces the legitimacy of the current leadership.
“Holding this meeting at the National Secretariat shows who the authentic leadership is,” he said, in an apparent reference to ongoing internal disputes within the party.
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The minister urged the NWC to move beyond internal divisions and establish a robust reconciliation mechanism to bring back aggrieved members. He noted that many defections were driven by uncertainty over the party’s future, as well as administrative concerns linked to documentation with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), adding that renewed stability should encourage their return.
It is nonsense to say those who have defected, let them go. No” Wike saud. “Chairman and your team, make sure you talk to those who have defected. There is still room for them to come back.”
He further emphasized the need for transparency, inclusiveness, and internal reforms, stressing the need to correct past mistakes and rebuild trust among members.
Wike also addressed senior party stakeholders, including former Senate President Bukola Saraki and several former state governors, urging them to support efforts to unify the party and strengthen its internal cohesion.
The PDP, Nigeria’s main opposition party, has faced persistent internal challenges in recent years, including factional disputes and a wave of defections, raising concerns about its competitiveness in future national elections