Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, a prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC), has responded sharply to recent statements by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, who accused Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and others of influencing the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) 2023 presidential ticket zoning to favor the North.
Eze, aiming to correct public perception, asserted that Wike himself orchestrated the collapse of the party’s zoning policy, not former Vice President Atiku Abubakar or Governor Mohammed.
Wike’s comments, in which he suggested that a long-standing North-South rotation agreement in the PDP had been undermined, were met with Eze’s critique.
Eze described Wike’s narrative as deceptive, stating that the minister’s ambition for the PDP presidential nomination in 2022 led to the party opening up the primaries to all regions.
He claimed Wike’s aggressive tactics, including the alignment of loyalists forming the so-called G-5 governors, were aimed at securing his own candidacy, effectively sidelining proposals to zone the ticket to the South-East.
Eze detailed how Wike’s maneuvers led to Peter Obi’s departure from the PDP and set the stage for a fierce contest in which Wike ultimately lost to Atiku. Eze characterized the loss as a significant psychological blow to Wike, who underestimated Atiku’s political experience.
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The APC chieftain further criticized Wike’s ongoing influence, labeling him a “rampaging bulldog” intent on weakening the PDP while aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Political analysts note that Wike’s contentious role within the PDP and now as a minister in the APC has fueled speculations of a complex agenda.
Dr. Obinna Ajulu, a political scientist, commented, “Wike’s shifting alliances and tactics reveal an underlying strategy to maintain political leverage, but it also risks deeper fractures within the PDP.”
Eze concluded by advising the PDP to distance itself from reconciliation efforts with Wike, suggesting his involvement with the APC seeks to marginalize the opposition party ahead of future elections.
He urged Wike to desist from leveraging Atiku’s name to secure relevance in his current political pursuits, challenging him to step away from his position in the APC-led government to prove his standing without cross-party influence.