Abuja, FCT – Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has issued a robust call to all members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to rigorously uphold the party’s constitution. Speaking at a critical stakeholder meeting in Abuja on Monday, Minister Wike emphasized that strict adherence to the party’s foundational document is paramount for preserving its internal unity and democratic integrity.
Wike underscored the significance of respecting the zoning arrangements enshrined within the PDP constitution. He issued a stern caution, stating that self-serving ambitions and a disregard for established rules pose a direct threat to the party’s long-term viability. “Let me put it on record that those present here truly believe in the PDP’s future,” Wike stated. “Our party cannot survive by acting with impunity. No opposition party in the world thrives under such conditions.”
Recalling the contentious yet, in his view, pivotal role of the G5 faction in national stability, Wike insisted that their decisions, despite sparking controversy, were essential to prevent a national crisis. “Whether people like us or not, the truth remains: if the G5 had not acted decisively, Nigeria could have descended into crisis. I will continue to stand by that decision.”
The Minister further elaborated on the PDP constitution’s explicit mandates regarding the zoning of key party positions, designed to ensure fairness and national unity. “The National Chairman is zoned to the North, and the National Secretary to the South,” he explained. He clarified that within these broad zones, micro-zoning allows for specific regions, such as North-Central, North-West, or North-East in the North, and South-West, South-East, or South-South in the South, to field candidates.
Wike stressed that while zoning provides essential guidance, the party’s national convention retains the ultimate authority for electing officers through democratic voting. “INEC does not accept consensus lists without voting. The national convention decides who holds party offices,” Wike asserted, citing the recent election of the National Chairman from the North-Central as a precedent.
He lamented the current internal divisions, which he attributed to some members’ refusal to respect the party’s guiding document. “Selfish interests must not be allowed to destroy our party. Ego cannot be the death of the PDP,” he warned passionately.
Concluding his address, Minister Wike urged all PDP members to honor the legacy of the party’s founding fathers by prioritizing unity and upholding core democratic principles. “Our mission is to rebuild, reconcile, and unite all members, not to dismiss or alienate anyone,” he affirmed, projecting a vision of renewed party cohesion.
