The internal struggle within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) keeps finding new ways to resurface. This time, it’s over the place of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and what his actions really mean for the party’s future.
According to George Turnah, the Secretary of the PDP in the South-South zone, Wike should not be reduced to the leader of a faction. In his view, Wike stands as a national leader within the PDP, whether some party members are comfortable with that or not. Turnah shared these thoughts during an appearance on The Morning Brief on Channels Television, while reacting to the ongoing PDP crisis.
Turnah sounded firm, almost cautious, as he explained his position. He argued that Wike has never publicly claimed to be leading any splinter group within the party. Instead, he described him as a long-standing party figure who is simply exercising his rights in a democratic system. And, perhaps this is where the tension really begins.
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In a democracy, Turnah said, every party member has the right to personal political choices. That includes the freedom to support a candidate of their liking, even if that choice makes others uncomfortable. He stressed that internal democracy should protect such rights, not punish them.
Looking back at recent political history, Turnah pointed to the controversial G5 governors during the 2023 elections. Wike was widely seen as the face of that group, but even then, unity was never absolute. Samuel Ortom, the former governor of Benue State, did not follow Wike’s decision to support President Bola Tinubu. Ortom backed Peter Obi instead. That difference alone, Turnah suggested, proves that Wike does not dictate decisions for others.
Still, the issue refuses to die quietly. Some PDP members believe Wike’s open support for President Tinubu crosses a line. For them, it feels like disloyalty. But Turnah strongly disagrees. He argued that casting Wike out, or labeling his supporters as enemies of the party, goes against the very foundation of internal democracy.
In his words, democracy is not about forcing uniform thinking. It is about allowing individuals to speak, choose, and act freely, while the majority still determines the party’s direction. Wike, he insisted, should be allowed to express his support for the President, just as others are allowed to oppose it.
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There was also a subtle warning beneath Turnah’s remarks. When parties start silencing influential voices instead of managing disagreements, cracks tend to widen. And in a party already battling internal division, that can be risky.
The PDP crisis, then, is not only about Wike. It is about how the party handles dissent, influence, and power. Whether Wike remains a unifying force or a symbol of division may depend less on his actions, and more on how the PDP chooses to respond.
For now, Turnah’s message is clear: Wike is not an outsider. He is a national leader of the PDP, with rights protected by democratic principles. Ignoring that reality, he seems to suggest, may only deepen the party’s troubles.
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