Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims of factional divisions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), insisting the party remains united ahead of its forthcoming convention.
Wike spoke on Wednesday after inspecting ongoing projects across the FCT, where he rejected suggestions of existing “camps” within the party.
Responding to inquiries about reconciliation efforts with opposing groups, the minister maintained that while individual disagreements are natural in politics, they do not equate to a split in the party’s structure.
“I don’t know which camp you are talking about now. There is only one PDP. So it would be wrong for me to say the other camp. I don’t know whether any other camp exists,” Wike stated.
He acknowledged that while some members have reached out to bridge gaps, these are personal reconciliations rather than formal factional negotiations.
“Naturally, there are some individuals who may not be happy. If you say so, okay, yes, some individuals may not be happy and have called to say ‘let bygones be bygones,’ but not a faction. There is only one PDP now,” he added.
Addressing the timing of the party’s internal activities, Wike noted that the upcoming convention would proceed as planned, regardless of ongoing talks, citing the strict timelines set by the Electoral Act and INEC for the commencement of primaries.
Beyond politics, the minister expressed satisfaction with the pace of several landmark projects in the FCT.
When questioned on how the FCT Administration is maintaining its current momentum amidst nationwide funding challenges, Wike credited the support of President Bola Tinubu and a disciplined approach to Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
“It is not a question of the amount of money. It has to do with commitment. You may have all the money in the world, and if you are not committed, it falls into the same thing.
“The momentum we are getting is because of the President’s support.” When you are in an administration where the boss is giving you support, obviously, you have no reason for failure or excuses,” he declared.