Wike Warns Opposition Party Risks Collapse Over Exclusion from Decision-Making

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has warned that the Peoples Democratic Party faces the prospect of collapse if its governors continue to exclude him from key decision-making processes despite his significant historical role within the organisation.

Mr Wike issued the stark warning during a media parley in Abuja on Friday, expressing frustration at being sidelined from major consultations despite his long-standing influence within the opposition party. The minister, who previously served as governor of Rivers State, argued that his exclusion from stakeholder meetings represents a dangerous approach that threatens the party’s survival.

The former governor stated that he had previously cautioned that the traps being set would ultimately consume those responsible. He characterised the current governors’ approach as one that will bury the party, suggesting that their strategy of marginalising him represents a fundamental miscalculation.

Mr Wike questioned the logic behind his exclusion, challenging whether his current ministerial position or his past contributions rendered him irrelevant to party affairs. He asked rhetorically whether the expectation that the party could survive whilst holding stakeholder meetings that exclude him simply because he no longer serves as a governor represented realistic thinking.

The minister argued that given the substantial role he has played in the party’s affairs over many years, excluding him from consultation on major decisions cannot be justified. He suggested that his contributions to the organisation should warrant continued involvement in key deliberations regardless of his current governmental position.

Mr Wike dismissed suggestions that the ruling All Progressives Congress bears responsibility for the opposition party’s internal crises, insisting instead that the problems are entirely self-inflicted. He characterised talk blaming the governing party as nonsensical, questioning whether it is the ruling party that compels the opposition to make poor decisions.

The minister expressed particular frustration at what he characterised as a small group of governors who, because they receive substantial financial allocations, believe they can make decisions unilaterally and expect others to simply follow. He questioned who should be expected to follow such an approach and why.

Addressing the party’s planned national convention, Mr Wike accused the leadership of failing to complete essential preparatory processes including congresses and other necessary steps. He argued that if proper procedures had been followed, no one would be in a position to obstruct the convention.

The minister’s criticisms come as the opposition party grapples with multiple challenges including internal defections, legal battles, and disputes over the planned national convention scheduled for mid-November in Ibadan, Oyo State. Recent weeks have witnessed a wave of high-profile defections as party leaders and governors have departed to join the ruling party.

Mr Wike also described the ongoing defections from the party as deeply embarrassing, noting that one of those who recently departed had served as chairman of the convention committee. He stated that whilst he recognises that various individuals were playing political games from the beginning, the situation has nonetheless reached an embarrassing juncture.

The minister claimed that he foresaw the crisis afflicting the party long before it materialised, suggesting that his earlier warnings have proven prescient. He insisted that everything he predicted about the organisation has come to pass, vindicated by subsequent developments.

The Federal Capital Territory minister stated that unless the party changes its approach and addresses its internal dysfunction, it will continue to suffer electoral defeats. He emphasised that matters are not being handled properly and that the consequences of this mismanagement have become apparent.

The wave of defections referenced by Mr Wike has seen several state governors abandon the opposition party for the ruling All Progressives Congress in recent weeks. These departures have reduced the number of governors affiliated with the opposition from eleven in October 2024 to eight currently, significantly weakening the party’s presence in state governments.

The minister’s warning about the party’s survival prospects comes amidst broader turmoil within the organisation, including legal disputes that threaten the planned convention. The party’s national secretary has reportedly raised concerns about alleged document forgery related to notification of electoral authorities about the convention, whilst the legal adviser has disputed other party officials’ authority to represent the organisation in certain legal proceedings.

Mr Wike’s position as Federal Capital Territory minister in an administration led by the opposition party’s primary rival has created tensions within the organisation. His acceptance of the ministerial appointment shortly after the 2023 elections generated controversy, with some party members viewing it as a betrayal whilst others acknowledged his right to accept the position.

The minister has previously defended his decision to work with the current administration, arguing that those who criticised him for allegedly destabilising the party or working for the ruling party have themselves subsequently joined that same party. He suggested this vindicated his earlier decisions and demonstrated the hypocrisy of his critics.

Despite serving in the current government, Mr Wike has maintained that he remains a member of the opposition party and therefore retains standing to participate in its internal deliberations. However, party governors and some leaders appear to have adopted the view that his ministerial role compromises his ability to participate fully in opposition party affairs.

The minister’s warnings reflect deeper divisions within the opposition organisation regarding strategy, leadership, and future direction. These tensions have been exacerbated by electoral defeats, defections, and disputes over how to position the party ahead of the next general elections scheduled for 2027.

The party’s planned national convention is intended to elect new leadership and provide an opportunity for organisational renewal. However, disputes over preparatory processes, concerns about procedural irregularities, and threats of legal challenges have cast doubt over whether the convention will proceed as scheduled.

Mr Wike’s insistence on inclusion in party deliberations despite his ministerial role highlights the complex relationships and loyalties that characterise Nigerian politics, where partisan affiliations sometimes prove more fluid than formal party structures might suggest. His warnings about the party’s potential collapse if current approaches continue represent both a critique of existing leadership and an assertion of his continued relevance to the organisation’s affairs.

As the party navigates its current challenges, the tension between the minister and party governors appears likely to persist, potentially complicating efforts to present a united front ahead of future electoral contests. Whether party leadership will accommodate Mr Wike’s demands for inclusion or maintain their current approach of excluding him from key deliberations remains to be seen.