Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says the defection of the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and 15 lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was triggered by deepening divisions within the PDP.
Speaking to journalists during an inspection of road projects in Abuja, Wike said the lawmakers acted within their constitutional rights, even though they did not inform him beforehand.
“It’s unfortunate. I have always said everybody has the right to make a choice. The party is fully factionalised. And the Constitution allows members to leave when a party is in such a state,” he said.
Wike maintained that he remains in the PDP, noting that not all lawmakers defected. “I believe 16 or 17 of them have left out of 27. We still have about 10, and we will continue to work together,” he said.
He urged PDP leaders to address the party’s internal crisis, warning that continued disunity would weaken it further. “If you don’t put your house in order, it is the party that is losing,” he said.
Reacting to recent rumours that he had been arrested in France, Wike dismissed the claims as politically motivated falsehoods. “Last time they said I was sick and flown overseas. This time, they said I was arrested in France. I’m doing my job,” he said.
He added that he remains focused on delivering on President Bola Tinubu’s mandate and will not be distracted by critics. “As long as my boss, the President, is happy with what I’m doing, people can say anything,” he said.
Wike has recently intensified oversight of ongoing projects across the FCT, emphasising infrastructure development as a key priority of his administration.