Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has made bold claims regarding his political influence, stating that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would collapse if he were to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking during his end-of-year media chat in Port Harcourt, Wike reiterated his status as a PDP member, despite some of his supporters, including Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, having recently joined the APC. Wike insisted that his departure would trigger a mass defection of party leaders in states like Benue, Plateau, Abia, and Edo, underscoring his perceived indispensable role within the party.

Addressing concerns about Governor Fubara potentially taking over his political structure in Rivers State, Wike asserted that his political relevance in the state remains incontestable. He clarified that Fubara’s defection does not automatically confer upon him the leadership of the APC in Rivers State, distinguishing it from situations in other states like Lagos and Kano. Wike emphasized that party registration occurs at the ward level, not the state level, and that true leadership requires exceptional qualities beyond merely holding a gubernatorial office. He dismissed Fubara's defection as inconsequential, arguing that the governor moved to the APC alone, without the customary accompaniment of council chairmen, party leaders, and state assembly members. Wike also implied that Fubara's defection would not guarantee him an automatic ticket for a second tenure.

In a related development, the PDP has vehemently condemned Wike's recent public statements, accusing him of gross anti-party activities and being a constant provocateur driven by selfish political intentions. In statements issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the PDP cited Wike's declaration of support for President Bola Tinubu, whom he described as the presumptive APC presidential candidate in 2027, as clear evidence of working against the party while maintaining PDP membership. The party labeled Wike's conduct as a direct violation of party discipline and democratic norms, characterizing him as a permanent agent provocateur in Nigeria's political landscape.

The PDP detailed Wike’s history of fostering internal leadership crises, recalling his shifting allegiances during the tenures of former national chairmen Ali Modu Sheriff, Uche Secondus, and Iyorchia Ayu. These episodes, according to the PDP, represent a consistent pattern of internal disruption rather than principled disagreement, suggesting Wike uses conflict to advance narrow personal interests. At the state level, Wike was accused of causing division during his time as Rivers State governor (2015-2023) through candidate imposition, exclusionary practices, and controversially restricting PDP presidential campaign activities in Rivers State during the 2023 general election. The party concluded that Wike’s recent statements confirm his and his associates' open support for the APC against the PDP, calling it a