The camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidency of leveraging the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to weaken and destabilize the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, made these claims on Monday during an appearance on “Politics Today” on Channels Television.
Ibe alleged that the APC has turned the PDP into a “playground,” exploiting its internal crises and extending its influence to other opposition parties.
He further described Wike, a former Rivers State governor, as the APC’s “man Friday” with a mandate to “kill the PDP.”
“You and I know, and Nigerians know, that the PDP has become a playground for the APC in the quest to destroy the opposition parties.
Not just the PDP but even the Labour (Party), using the FCT minister.
He is a man Friday who has a mandate. His mandate is to kill the PDP,” Ibe said.
Responding to the accusations, APC’s National Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, dismissed the claims, questioning the rationale behind suggesting Wike is being used to destroy the PDP.
He emphasized that Wike remains a PDP member and has not declared any allegiance to the ruling party.
“Wike is not a card-carrying member of the APC, and he has not come out to say he is dancing to the music of the APC.
He has not denied the fact that he is a card-carrying member of the PDP,” Ibrahim stated in an exclusive interview with “The PUNCH”.
He added, “Why are they trying to ascribe to Wike what he has not ascribed to himself? These questions should be directed at Wike.
The PDP is running away from the challenge before it.
The APC has more pressing matters than subjugating Wike to do its bidding. Wike is his own man.”
Ibrahim also called on the PDP to address its internal challenges directly instead of attributing its woes to external factors, urging the party to “call a spade a spade.”
The back-and-forth highlights the ongoing tensions within the PDP and its relationship with key political figures like Wike, who has been a central player in Nigerian politics.
