Wike downplays rumors of PDP division, pledges party cohesion before national gathering

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday dismissed reports of a split within the Peoples Democratic Party, insisting the party remains united as it prepares for its national convention scheduled on March 29 and 30, 2026.

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Wike spoke to journalists in Abuja after inspecting several ongoing and completed infrastructure projects across the capital city.

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Addressing speculation about internal divisions, he maintained that disagreements among members do not amount to factionalisation.

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“We have only one PDP, no faction,” he said.

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He added, “I don’t know which camp you are talking about. There is only one PDP. Some individuals may not be happy, yes, but there is no faction.”

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The minister noted that while some grievances may exist, reconciliation efforts are still ongoing and can proceed alongside preparations for the convention.

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“That there is a convention does not mean there will be no reconciliation. Everything has its own time,” he said.

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During the inspection tour, Wike reiterated the FCT Administration’s commitment to ensuring the quality and timely delivery of projects.

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“In our usual programme, we make sure we go round to see what the contractors are doing and the quality of jobs they will hand over,” he said.

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He disclosed that a bridge project near the Fire Service in Abuja is nearing completion, with contractors projecting delivery within five months.

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“From what we have seen, it is a very quality job. I commend the company,” Wike stated.

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The minister also confirmed that the N5 road project, handled by Julius Berger, has been completed and will be inaugurated as part of activities marking President Bola Tinubu’s third anniversary in office.

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At the Nigerian Law School, Wike expressed satisfaction with the completion of 10 staff bungalows, describing them as fully furnished and ready for use.

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He also assessed ongoing hostel projects, commending progress on the female hostel while raising concerns about delays in the male hostel.

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“I am quite impressed with the female hostel, but I am not impressed with the level of work on the male hostel. They were awarded at the same time,” he said, noting that contractors have pledged completion by October or November,” he said.

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Describing the intervention as unprecedented, Wike said the government’s effort marks a significant milestone for the institution.

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“This is the first time a government is trying to provide basic infrastructure for the Nigerian Law School,” he stated.

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On funding and project execution, the minister attributed the administration’s performance to prudent resource management and political will.

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“It is not about the amount of money, but commitment. You can have all the money and still not achieve results if you are not committed,” he said.

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According to him, the FCT relies largely on internally generated revenue and avoids awarding contracts it cannot fund. “Projects we don’t have money for, we will not award them,” Wike stressed.

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He credited the pace of development to the support of the president, saying, “The momentum we are getting is because we have a President who believes in providing infrastructure. That support makes the difference.”

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Wike assured residents that all ongoing projects would be completed as scheduled, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to improving infrastructure and service delivery across the FCT.

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His comes against the backdrop of a protracted leadership crisis that has plagued the party since November 2025. Governors of the PDP had earlier backed the Ibadan convention held on November 15, which produced Kabiru Turaki and other members of the National Working Committee for a four-year tenure.

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Leadership was handed over from the former acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, to Turaki before Damagum’s tenure ended on December 9.

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However, a faction loyal to Wike later formed a 13-member Caretaker Committee, naming Mohammed Abdulrahman as Acting National Chairman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu as Acting National Secretary, among others, with a 60-day mandate.

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Attempts by both factions to hold meetings at the PDP National Secretariat on November 18 descended into chaos, prompting the Nigeria Police Force to seal the secretariat.

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Legal battles followed, culminating in a February 12 hearing at the Court of Appeal. On March 9, the court ruled that the Ibadan convention violated the Electoral Act, the Constitution, and the party’s constitution, nullifying the convention that produced Turaki and his committee.

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