Wike Warns PDP Against Readmitting Peter Obi, Says Move Would Destroy Party Before 2027

Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has cautioned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against readmitting former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, warning that such a move could ruin the party’s chances in 2027.

During a media chat on Monday, the former Rivers State governor criticized the PDP for failing to learn from its mistakes in the 2023 elections, particularly its disregard for zoning and leadership balance.

Wike recalled objecting when both the party’s presidential candidate and national chairman came from the North, calling it unjust and politically reckless.

“From day one, I told my colleagues in PDP, you are shooting yourself. If you allow what is going on to continue, you’ll pay. You cannot have the presidential candidate and the national chairman of the party from the same region,” he said.

The minister accused party leaders of “stealing” both the ticket and the chairmanship, a decision he argued weakened the PDP and led to electoral failure. He stressed that the presidency must return to the South to preserve fairness and stability.

Wike dismissed speculation of Obi’s return, branding it a dangerous move that would strip the PDP of ideology and principle.

“To what? 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,” Wike said.

He insisted that allowing Obi back into the PDP would reduce it to nothing more than a vehicle for personal ambition rather than a platform grounded in principle.

“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,” he added.