PDP: Wike is an Agent of Provocation

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has launched a stinging critique of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, describing him as a perennial “agent of provocation” whose primary political strategy involves creating chaos to mask selfish ambitions. In a formal statement released on Monday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, responded to Wike’s recent media parley in Port Harcourt, labeling the Minister’s conduct as a textbook example of “anti-democratic adventurism.”

According to the PDP, Wike’s history within the party is a documented trail of internal instability. The party leadership pointed out that since Wike took office as Governor of Rivers State in 2015, he has been a recurrent source of friction. The statement meticulously detailed Wike’s fluctuating loyalties, noting how he championed the leadership bids of figures like Ali Modu Sheriff, Uche Secondus, and Iyorchia Ayu, only to aggressively lead the movements to oust each of them shortly thereafter.

The party’s frustration reached a boiling point regarding Wike’s open flirtation with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Ememobong noted that by declaring himself the “number one supporter” of the presumptive APC candidate for 2027 while still claiming a stake in the PDP, Wike has essentially confirmed the grounds for his recent expulsion. The PDP maintains that his “anti-party activities” have now moved from the shadows into a blatant public declaration of dual loyalty.

This war of words comes in the wake of a tumultuous National Convention in Ibadan in November 2024, where the party voted to expel Wike and several high-profile allies, including former Ekiti Governor Ayo Fayose. While Wike has dismissed the expulsion as the act of “intoxicated” individuals and “vampires,” the PDP leadership has doubled down, recently issuing formal certificates of expulsion to ensure he can no longer influence internal party proceedings.

The statement further alleged that Wike’s recent media appearances are a calculated attempt to stir controversy and remain relevant at a time when the party is seeking to consolidate and provide a credible alternative for the 2027 elections. The PDP accused the Minister of being unable to function in a peaceful political environment, suggesting that he thrives only when the party is polarized and leadership is under siege.

Despite the expulsion, the legal and political battle for the soul of the party continues. While Wike maintains that he “will not run away from any fight” and plans to remain active within the PDP structures he still influences, the national leadership is signaling a permanent break. For the PDP, Wike’s media parley was not a mark of transparency, but a final confirmation that his interests are no longer aligned with the survival or success of the main opposition party.

As the political year winds down, the “Wike factor” remains the most significant internal challenge for the PDP. By publicly branding him an agent provocateur, the party is attempting to immunize its remaining members against his influence. The message from the Wadata Plaza is clear: the era of the Minister’s kingmaking and subsequent “unmaking” of national chairmen must come to an end if the party is to survive.