Wike: PDP risks collapse with Obi as presidential candidate

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has warned the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the moves to bring back former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi into the party.

Bauchi State Governor and Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed, recently said that the party is considering Obi and former President Goodluck Jonathan as possible candidates for the 2027 presidential election.

Mohammed said Obi, who was the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, would be given the opportunity if he chose to return to the PDP.

Speaking during a media chat in Abuja on Monday, September 1, 2025, Wike said the PDP risks self-destruction if the party attempts to bring back Obi into its fold.

Wike described Obi’s return to the PDP as dangerous and hypocritical, saying: “Bringing Obi to where? You want to kill the party?

“Obi that was abusing the party, saying it is rotten – so the party is now good enough for him? Ambition can make people even go to Satan’s house.

Deji Adeyanju: Why I’d vote for Tinubu over Obi in 2027

“If you want to destroy this party, dare it – bring Obi. There’s no way he will come back just because of ambition. No more ideology, no longer principle.”

The minister, who stressed that the presidency must rotate back to the South to ensure equity and political stability, said the PDP had not learned from past mistakes that majorly contributed to the party’s loss in the 2023 general election.

The former governor of Rivers State recalled that he and other party leaders repeatedly warned against allowing both the presidential candidate and the national chairman to come from the North, saying the move was unjust and politically suicidal.

Wike further accused the PDP of “stealing” both positions and ignoring calls for fairness and balance, saying: “From day one, I told my colleagues, PDP, you are shooting yourself. If you allow what is going on to continue, you’ll pay. And what did I say? You cannot have the presidential candidate at the same time as the national chairman of the party.

“It is better now you have stolen the presidential ticket – and again stole the national chairman. I said it will purge you. And it really purged them. I have no regret for it.”

The Star