‘I don’t run from a fight’ — Wike speaks on rumoured exit from PDP

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), says he will not leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) due to the internal crisis in the party.

Wike spoke on Wednesday during a media parley organised to commemorate his one year in office as FCT minister.

Since his appointment by President Bola Tinubu, there have been rumours that the former Rivers governor is no longer a member of the PDP.

Recently, Edwin Clark, leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), said Wike needs to leave PDP for the party to survive.

In an open letter to Umar Damagum, the acting national chairman of the PDP, Clark said he would not allow Wike to destroy the country’s main opposition party and Rivers state.

At the moment, the PDP is battling internal wrangling at the national level.

The PDP in Rivers is also facing crisis as Wike and his successor, Siminalayi Fubara, are at loggerheads over the control of the state and party.

Responding to a question during the media parley if he would leave the PDP if the crisis in Rivers persists, Wike said, “I don’t run away from a fight.”

“I have told you that I don’t run away from a fight. I will stay there and fight it out. Who am I going to run from? The vampires?” he said.

“Did I not say I won’t support the presidential candidate of PDP? Did I do it secretly?”

Wike also said his position is that the Rivers state house of assembly must be allowed to function.

The former governor said it is “impunity and madness” for three lawmakers to constitute the Rivers assembly and pass the state budget.

“I have made it very clear that the Rivers house of assembly must work. You sit in your house and say three people will constitute an assembly. You say these people have defected; who pronounces defection?” Wike said.

“You have gone to court several times, but you can’t wait for the judgment of the court.”

Wike added that the court should be allowed to make a final pronouncement on the defection of the lawmakers loyal to him.