The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has stated that the mass defection of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders and state governors to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has vindicated his earlier stance and justified his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Wike made the remarks on Wednesday during the flag-off of the construction of the main carriageways on the Outer Southern Expressway in Abuja.
The FCT Minister said some governors who previously accused him of destabilising the PDP and working for the APC are now members of the ruling party, adding that they should commend him for “doing a good job” that eventually paved the way for them.
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“I have been watching on daily television and social media, people who said I wanted to destabilise the party, that I was working for the APC. All of them are now in the APC. So, if that is true, they should commend me for working for where they are heading. I should be commended for doing a good job for them,” he said.
In the past 48 hours, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah resigned from the PDP and joined the APC, citing national development and President Tinubu’s leadership as reasons for his defection.
Similarly, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri also announced his defection from the PDP on Wednesday, alongside 19 members of the State House of Assembly. His move makes him the fourth PDP governor to defect ahead of the 2027 general elections, reducing the party’s governorship seats from 11 as of October 2024 to only eight presently.
Wike stated that the defecting governors have no reason to complain, as President Tinubu’s “decisive leadership” has provided enough financial resources for states to pay salaries and execute meaningful projects.
“Let every state be sincere to their people and to Nigerians. I was a governor for eight years, and sometimes the money that came in was not enough to pay salaries, let alone carry out projects. But today, because of the leadership of somebody—by the decisive leadership of somebody—every state now has money. Banks that governors used to run to are now the ones running after states, saying, ‘Don’t leave us out,’” Wike said.
He described his decision to support Tinubu’s administration as a “worthwhile choice,” adding that the current leadership has ended the era of states leaving huge debts for their successors.
“So, if for that reason so many people are going to support Mr President, I think it is worthwhile. Now, no governor will talk about leaving debts for his successor, unlike what used to happen before. That is the leadership of somebody. And that’s what this country needs right now—visionary and purposeful leadership that takes bold decisions others once avoided,” he stated.