Federal Capital Territory Minister and former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has defended his political alignment with President Bola Tinubu, dismissing criticisms from members of the Peoples Democratic Party and describing the party’s presidential ambitions as unrealistic in its current state.
Wike spoke on Thursday in Abuja after inspecting ongoing infrastructure projects across the Federal Capital Territory.
Responding to comments from former Anambra PDP Chairman Dan Ulasi and other critics within the party, Wike said his political decisions were based on realism rather than sentiment.
He argued that many of those criticising him had failed to deliver electoral victories in their own states and therefore lacked the credibility to question his political choices. Wike also suggested that some of the critics could eventually defect to the Labour Party.
According to him, the PDP is currently too divided and structurally weak to mount a serious presidential campaign. He maintained that the party should focus on rebuilding its structures from the grassroots before considering another presidential bid.
“The PDP’s path back to relevance lies not in presidential ambitions but in total structural overhaul,” Wike said, adding that every election is local and success in one state cannot automatically translate nationwide.
On controversies surrounding land allocations in the FCT, Wike criticised media organisations and groups he accused of hypocrisy for questioning government land allocations while benefiting from similar arrangements themselves.
He specifically mentioned Channels Television and AIT, stating that both organisations operate on lands allocated by the FCT Administration.
Wike clarified that the FCT Administration does not sell land directly but allocates plots under development agreements, with all beneficiaries required to pay processing and documentation fees.
He also warned that undeveloped lands left idle for years could be reclaimed and reassigned to investors prepared to develop them.
The minister further announced major progress in the long delayed relocation of the Apo Mechanic Village to Wasa, describing the project as both an urban planning and revenue generating initiative.
According to Wike, the relocation site is nearing completion, and the move will help formalise businesses, improve infrastructure, and increase tax collection within the FCT.
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