Wike sets terms for PDP reconciliation, insists South-South Congress must stand

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has laid out firm conditions for restoring peace within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring that the party must respect the outcome of its recently held South-South zonal congress.

Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and a prominent PDP stakeholder, made the remarks on Monday during his monthly media parley in Abuja.

He insisted that the congress, which took place in Calabar, Cross River State, was valid and must be upheld as the legitimate outcome for the region.

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“Our South-South zonal congress that was held must be upheld. There’s no doubt, no two words about it,” the minister asserted. “If they want peace, this is the condition.

The congress was held. Chief Daniel Orbi emerged as the National Vice Chairman of the zone, and the court allowed the congress to hold.”

Wike criticized the party’s Acting National Chairman for previously questioning the congress, alleging that PDP governors were not in support of it.

“When we were doing our South-South congress, the Acting National Chairman claimed that the PDP governors were not in support of the National Congress. Where are the PDP governors now?” he asked pointedly.

He reiterated that the courts had ruled in favour of holding the congress and that any attempts to undermine it would not be tolerated.

“There’s nothing anybody can tell us. The congress held, and the process was legitimate,” Wike added.

The minister’s comments come amid growing internal rifts within the PDP, particularly in the South-South zone, which have threatened the party’s unity ahead of future electoral battles.

Wike’s firm stance signals that reconciliation within the party may depend on how the leadership responds to the outcome of the Calabar congress.