Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has praised former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a bold and strategic response to what he sees as deep-rooted leadership failures within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Wike made the comments during a media parley in Abuja, expressing frustration that the PDP leadership appeared blindsided by the move.
He noted that internal warnings about the party’s disunity and indecision had gone unheeded, allowing high-profile defections like Okowa’s to unfold unchecked.
Citing his past attempts to caution fellow party leaders, Wike lamented their dismissiveness and insisted Okowa’s exit was a natural consequence of a party drifting without clear leadership or purpose.
“I told them what was coming,” he said, “but they refused to act.”
The former Rivers State governor also defended Okowa’s political integrity, contrasting him with those who remain in the PDP while secretly supporting rival parties.
“He made his position clear, unlike others who pretend to be loyal while doing otherwise,” Wike argued, pointing to inconsistencies in the party’s handling of loyalty and discipline.
Wike further questioned the silence over PDP’s Board of Trustees Chairman allegedly supporting Labour Party’s Alex Otti for a second term.
He implied that if such actions are overlooked, then criticism of Okowa’s open alignment with the APC amounts to double standards.
Okowa’s defection is the latest in a series of high-level shifts within Nigeria’s political scene, signaling continued turbulence within the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.
