Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has delivered a forceful message to the Peoples Democratic Party leadership, cautioning against welcoming back former Anambra Governor Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 presidential elections.
During a press engagement with journalists on Monday, the former Rivers State governor declared that handing the party’s presidential nomination to Obi would spell disaster for the opposition party.
Wike questioned the appropriateness of Obi’s potential return to the PDP fold, citing the former governor’s previous criticisms of the party during his departure to contest the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party banner.
“As a matter of principle, Peter Obi should not consider returning to a party he once described as rotten just because he wants to fulfil his ambition of becoming Nigeria’s president,” the FCT Minister stated emphatically.
The former Rivers governor issued an unambiguous warning to party stakeholders, declaring that accommodating Obi’s return would have catastrophic consequences for the PDP’s future prospects.
“If you want to destroy this party, dare to bring in Peter Obi,” Wike said, making clear his opposition to any reconciliation efforts with the former Anambra chief executive.
Wike’s comments reflect ongoing tensions within Nigeria’s political landscape as parties begin strategic positioning for the next presidential cycle. His remarks also highlight internal divisions within the PDP regarding the best path forward for reclaiming power from the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The FCT Minister’s strong stance against Obi’s potential return suggests that any efforts to reunite the former governor with the PDP would face significant resistance from influential party figures, potentially complicating the opposition’s unity efforts ahead of 2027.
Obi, who finished third in the 2023 presidential election as the Labour Party candidate, has not publicly indicated any intention to return to his former party.
