By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA — The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Wednesday pushed back against suggestions that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike could be headed for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, saying recent praise from APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, should not be mistaken for signs of an impending political transfer.

The response followed glowing remarks by Yilwatda, who recently commended Wike’s performance as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

While welcoming the recognition, the PDP insisted that the former Rivers State governor remains firmly within its fold despite serving in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, the party described Wike as one of its most valuable political assets and maintained that his service in the APC-led administration had not altered his standing within the PDP.

“As Professor Yilwatda himself suggested, Barrister Wike’s engagement with the APC-led administration is best viewed as a political loan arrangement. We wish to state unequivocally that such an arrangement contains no provision whatsoever for a permanent transfer,” the party said.

The PDP said the ruling party should not interpret Wike’s role in government as evidence of a looming defection or a pathway to political acquisition.

“The APC should therefore not entertain hopes of a permanent acquisition, as such a prospect does not exist,” it stated.

The party also sought to dispel speculation about Wike’s loyalty, stressing that his participation in the Federal Government had neither weakened his ties to the PDP nor changed his political identity.

“His service in the current APC-led administration should not be misconstrued as a change of political allegiance. It does not alter his political identity, nor does it diminish his longstanding loyalty, commitment and immense contributions to the Peoples Democratic Party,” the statement added.

Having rejected suggestions of a political realignment, the PDP turned to what it believes explains the attention Wike continues to attract across party lines: his performance in office.

According to the party, Wike’s work in infrastructure development, urban renewal and governance reforms has transformed key parts of the nation’s capital and earned recognition across political, ethnic and religious divides.

“There is no doubt that, through his visionary leadership, commitment to public service and execution of numerous landmark projects, Barrister Wike has transformed critical aspects of the nation’s capital, earning commendation from citizens across political, ethnic and religious divides,” it said.

The PDP argued that Yilwatda’s praise was significant not merely because it came from the ruling party, but because it amounted to a broader acknowledgment of the quality of leadership produced by the opposition.

“The commendation by the APC National Chairman is yet another public recognition of the quality, competence and leadership capacity that the PDP continues to offer Nigeria,” the statement said.

It added that Wike’s record in the FCT was only one example of the depth of talent available within the party.

“We are proud to state that the PDP is also replete with numerous capable leaders and technocrats who, if given similar opportunities, would surpass the performance of many current APC office holders,” it stated.

The party also used the statement to renew its appeal to voters ahead of the 2027 general elections, arguing that the leadership qualities it credits Wike with are not unique to one individual but reflect a broader culture within the PDP.

“We therefore call on Nigerians to once again entrust the PDP with leadership responsibilities across all elective positions in 2027,” the party said, arguing that doing so would allow the country to experience on a broader scale the kind of governance it said Wike had demonstrated in the Federal Capital Territory.

The statement maintained that the recognition accorded to Wike by the APC chairman ultimately reinforced the PDP’s claim that it remains a reservoir of experienced leaders capable of governing effectively if returned to power.

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