Wike Warns PDP Against Peter Obi’s Return, Citing Risk of Party’s Collapse.
Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has issued a stark warning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), cautioning that re-admitting former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi could lead to the party’s downfall. Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Monday, 1 September 2025, Wike described efforts to bring Obi back into the PDP fold as “dangerous and hypocritical,” arguing that it would erode the party’s credibility and ideological foundation.
Wike’s remarks come amid speculations that PDP leaders, including Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed and Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, have been engaging with Obi and former President Goodluck Jonathan about returning to the party for the 2027 presidential race. Obi, who left the PDP in May 2022, just before its presidential primary, cited internal developments that made constructive contributions impossible. He subsequently joined the Labour Party, becoming its presidential candidate in the 2023 election.
The former Rivers State governor was scathing in his criticism, questioning the logic of welcoming back someone who had previously denounced the PDP as “rotten.” “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 argued that re-admitting Obi would reduce the PDP to a platform driven by personal ambition, stripping it of its principles and ideology. “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.
Wike also accused the PDP of failing to learn from its mistakes in the 2023 general election, particularly its decision to allow both the presidential candidate and national chairman to come from the northern region, which he described as “fundamentally unjust.” He recalled warning the party against this imbalance, alongside other leaders, but said the PDP’s disregard for zoning and equity led to its electoral defeat. “It is better now you have stolen the presidential ticket—and again stolen the national chairman. I said it will purge you. And it really purged them,” he declared, insisting that the presidency must return to the South to ensure fairness.
The minister’s comments have sparked mixed reactions. Supporters of Obi, who recently aligned with the African Democratic Congress coalition, argue that his return could bolster the PDP’s chances in 2027, given his strong showing in the 2023 election. However, Wike maintained that such a move would alienate core party members and undermine the PDP’s recovery efforts. “The only viable path for the PDP to regain national prominence is a strict adherence to the principles of rotation, equity, and justice,” he said.
The PDP, which held power from 1999 to 2015, has struggled to maintain its status as a formidable opposition since losing the 2015 presidential election. Political analysts suggest that internal divisions, exemplified by Wike’s public feud with party leadership, continue to weaken its prospects. As discussions about 2027 intensify, Wike’s warning underscores the deep rifts within the PDP and the challenges it faces in presenting a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress.
