The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has accused the governors elected under the Peoples Democratic Party of running the party with arrogance and impunity.

Wike warned that the governors’ actions and disregard for due process could lead to the total collapse of the party.

The FCT minister spoke on Friday during the October edition of his monthly media chat in Abuja.

“The way these present governors are going, they will bury this party. I’m the FCT Minister, for Christ’s sake—forget about whatever you think. Are you telling me that, as it is today, because I’m not a governor, you will go and hold a PDP stakeholders’ meeting, exclude me, and then expect to survive? Assuming I’m not the FCT Minister, by the role that I have played in the PDP till now, simply because I’m not a governor, I cannot be consulted in making decisions of the party? Certainly not!

“Two or three people cannot go and sit somewhere, make a decision, and then tell me that because they are governors, I should follow such a decision,” he stated.

He described the party’s national convention slated for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, as illegal.

Wike insisted that he would not attend any convention that fails to comply with the party’s constitutional procedures, saying his attendance would amount to endorsing illegality.

In the lead-up to the national convention, the PDP has been engulfed in tension as rival factions clash over control of its leadership structure.

Last week, the party’s chairman in Imo State, Austin Nwachukwu; his Abia State counterpart, Abraham Nnanna; and the South-South Zonal Secretary, George Turnah, filed a suit at a Federal High Court seeking to halt preparations for the convention until a substantive case before the court is resolved.

For more than a year, the PDP has been mired in a series of internal crises, with governors elected on its platform and Wike’s loyalists locked in a fierce struggle over control of the party machinery.

Also, the party’s National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu, a known Wike loyalist, last week petitioned the Department of State Services, the Inspector General of Police, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, alleging forgery of his signature on communications related to the upcoming convention.

Speaking on the internal crisis rocking the party at the media chat, Wike condemned what he described as the sidelining of key stakeholders in major party decisions, including preparations for the convention.

According to him, attempts by a few governors to dominate the party and control the outcome of the convention without due process were illegal and detrimental to the party’s unity.

He said the conduct of some governors was pushing the party toward self-destruction, stressing that the ruling All Progressives Congress was not responsible for the party’s woes.

Wike said, “You (governors) go and take a decision, and then you sideline certain people. What do you expect to have? You will have a faction. Is that not embarrassing? Why are you not following due process in holding a national convention?

“I have said it, and I will continue to say it: the moment you think that you can sideline certain people and nothing will happen, you cause a major crisis in the party.

“If you do the right thing, would anybody challenge the convention? People think they are too smart. You have not done your congresses for those who will participate in that convention. All you are interested in is, ‘Let’s go and do the convention.’ You want to deny so many states the opportunity to participate in the convention, and we say you cannot do that.”

When asked if he would attend the convention, Wike said, “If a proper convention is to be held, why won’t I go? But I won’t go to a convention I know is filled with illegalities. How do you expect me to attend a convention that I know, by law, is not a valid convention?”

Wike also faulted the decision-making process within the PDP, accusing the party’s governors of excluding other influential members and arrogating powers to themselves.

“When you make a fundamental mistake by arrogating powers to yourself, of course, you will suffer the effect.

The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has slammed governors of the Peoples Democratic Party for sidelining him in major party decisions, warning that such exclusionary practices could threaten the party’s survival.

Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, Wike expressed frustration over being left out of key consultations despite his long-standing influence and role within the PDP.

He said, “Have I not said it before now that the booby trap you are setting will consume you? The way these present governors are doing, they will bury this party.”

The minister questioned why his exclusion was justified simply because he no longer holds a governorship position.

“I am the FCT Minister. Are you telling me that because I am not a governor, you will hold a PDP stakeholders’ meeting and exclude me, and then expect the party to survive?” he queried.

He added, “Assuming I am not a minister, by the role I have played in the PDP till now, is it right to say I cannot be consulted in taking decisions of the party? Certainly not.”

Wike further criticised the notion that internal crises could be blamed on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that the PDP’s problems were self-inflicted.

“All these talks about APC are rubbish. Is it the APC that makes you take wrong decisions? You mean two or three people, because they are governors and receive large allocations, will go and decide, and you tell me to follow? Follow who?” he queried.

Speaking on the party’s planned national convention, Wike said the leadership had failed to complete necessary congresses and other key processes, which he claimed were stalling progress.

“If they do the right thing, will anybody stall the convention? They have not done the congresses and other things that should be in place,” he said.

The PDP has, in recent months, faced internal crises and a wave of defections involving top members such as Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and the Governor of Akwa Ibom, Umo Eno. The party is also battling multiple legal suits over its forthcoming convention.

The APC National Working Committee had, a few weeks ago, disqualified Ojo from participating in the October 27 primary in Ekiti State, effectively clearing the path for the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji, to emerge as the consensus candidate.

Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed the Ekiti State governorship election for July 20, 2026.

The protesters, mainly women, chanted slogans such as “Ekiti says No to Governor Biodun Oyebanji,” “No to Consensus,” and “Yes to Kayode Ojo.”

They carried placards with inscriptions including “We Say No to Kayode Ojo’s Disqualification,” “We Don’t Want Consensus,” “Ekiti Women Reject BAO,” “We Reject BAO,” and “APC Must Let Ekiti People Choose Their Candidate.”

Subsequently, in a statement issued on October 14 by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC announced that it had adopted a consensus candidate for the primary following the voluntary withdrawal of one of the two cleared aspirants, Mrs. Atinuke Oluremi Omolayo.

On behalf of the protesters, Abereniola Mercy expressed that the people of Ekiti believe Ojo is the best candidate for the governorship position.

She stated, “We have gathered here today because the people of Ekiti State firmly believe that Kayode Ojo is the right man to lead us as our next governor. Across towns and communities, there is a renewed sense of hope and determination among our people. They are not only ready to vote for him but are also prepared to work tirelessly to ensure his victory in the forthcoming election.

“Our presence here is to draw the attention of the party leadership to the challenges and frustrations we are experiencing in Ekiti State. We reject Ojo’s disqualification and demand his reinstatement to enable him to participate in the APC primary.We want them to understand that the people have made their choice, and that choice is Kayode Ojo. He is a man of integrity, humility, and competence someone who genuinely cares about the development of our state and the welfare of its citizens.

“We are appealing to our great party not to impose any consensus arrangement on us. What we desire is a fair, transparent, and credible primary election where every delegate will have the opportunity to freely choose their preferred candidate. Consensus should not be forced upon the people when they are united in their choice.

“Therefore, we call on the national leadership of our party to respect the democratic will of Ekiti people. Give us the chance to decide through the ballot, because we are fully ready to stand behind Kayode Ojo as our next governor in 2026.”