PDP crisis: Wike says ‘we are winning in court because God is with us’

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike says there is still room for those who left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to return to the party.

Wike, the national factional leader of the PDP, stated this on Monday during the 108th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party held at Wadata Plaza, the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.

He advised the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) led by Abdulrahman Mohammed to continue its reconciliation efforts to strengthen the party.

“Now we are together, we must not stop at reconciliation. The more we are, the better. It would be nonsense to say that those who defected, let them go. No.

“President and your team, make sure you create a strong committee that will move forward and talk to those who have defected.

“There is still room for their return, and whatever they are owed, they will still get it,” he said.

Wike said most defectors left because of the uncertainty, adding that most politicians would find somewhere they could get help.

“But now that the party is back and will be on the ballot, if you go and talk to them, I think they will reconsider and continue to support this party.

“For my part, I assure you that I will continue to support the party. I will continue to be loyal to the party.

“From 1998 to now, I have been a member of the PDP and I will not leave the party. This is the truth,” he said.

On cases pending before the courts, the minister expressed confidence in the party’s lawyers, saying that “they are doing an excellent job.

“Moreover, God who has brought us to this point can never abandon us. So if God had wanted to abandon us, we would not have begun to win, and we will continue to win by the grace of God,” he said.

Wike congratulated the NWC for reclaiming Wadata Plaza, the party’s national secretariat.

“Let me congratulate you because, after your inauguration, you have taken a bold step to ensure that we recover our secretariat, which is where we sit today.

“What shows that you are a genuine PDP is why you hold your meeting at the national secretariat. If there is any other PDP, let them come to the national secretariat and hold their own meeting,” he said.

Earlier, Mohammed said the PDP wanted all defected members back, adding that the party leadership was already trying to reach out to the aggrieved members for genuine reconciliation.

He stressed the need for unity among PDP members, for the collective survival and success of the party.

Additionally, the party’s board faction chairman, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, called for true reconciliation, saying, “The party’s national convention had come and gone. What now remains is a united party.”