Steer Clear of South-east, Zonal PDP Committee Warns Wike

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The South-east Zonal Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday condemned the postulation by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, regarding the internal affairs of the party in the zone.
It stated that Wike’s demand for the “dissolution of the duly elected South-east zonal executive” was “not only reckless and baseless, but also a direct affront to the democratic processes of our party.”
Wike had earlier on Monday issued a threat that the PDP national convention scheduled for November 2025 may not hold unless conditions demanded by his team within the party are met.
He specifically said: “The issue of the National convention is not the problem, the issue is the problems leading to the convention and people should understand that the PDP has agreed to set up a committee for the South-east and Ebonyi.”
But describing Wike as “a meddlesome interloper,” the South-east zone of the party said his divisive rhetoric was not welcome in the zone,” adding that if Wike has found comfort in the All Progressives Party (APC) as his actions and alliances suggest, he should make his defection official and stop playing the role of a double-edged saboteur. “The PDP is not a playground for political opportunists,” the party noted.
In the statement signed by the PDP Zonal Publicity Secretary, Chigozie Igwe, the zonal leadership said: “Let it be clearly stated Wike is neither a stakeholder nor a leader in the South-east PDP. He holds no official position in the party at any level, or state, and therefore lacks the legitimacy, authority, or moral standing to speak on the structure or leadership of our zone.
“His call for the dissolution of the duly elected South-east zonal executive is not only reckless and baseless, but also a direct affront to the democratic processes of our party. The Zonal Congress was conducted transparently under the supervision of the National Working Committee (NWC), and its outcome has been ratified by the same NWC. Any attempt to undermine this process is a blatant act of sabotage.
“Wike’s consistent pattern of anti-party activities, from his open endorsement of APC candidates to his public praise of the Rivers State local government elections widely criticised for lacking credibility, makes it abundantly clear that he no longer serves the interests of the PDP.
‘’His recent media engagements are nothing more than political theatre, designed to distract from his own failures and irrelevance within the party.
“We remind Nigerians that Wike lost the last local government elections in Rivers State, despite his self-congratulatory rhetoric. His inability to deliver electoral success for the PDP in his own backyard disqualifies him from offering unsolicited advice to zones where the party remains strong and united.
“The South-east PDP will not descend into the gutters with Wike. We will not dignify his provocations with further engagement. He is a meddlesome interloper, and his divisive rhetoric is not welcome in our zone,” the zonal PDP said.
It said it was issuing the final warning and Wike must steer clear of the affairs of the PDP in the South-east zone, positing that any further interference will be treated as a deliberate act of destabilisation, which will attract a response.
“The PDP South-east remains focused, disciplined, and committed to rebuilding the party from within, without distractions from those who have long abandoned its ideals,” the statement added.