The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) has no moral or political right to complain about the actions of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, insisting that the ruling party must live with the consequences of its own choices in Rivers State.
The PDP maintained that Wike is no longer a member of the opposition party and accused the APC of deliberately engaging him for political advantage, only to express concern now that the relationship appears to be creating internal tension.
The party’s position was made public on Tuesday in Abuja by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, while responding to the public exchange between Wike and the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, over political developments in Rivers State.
According to Ememobong, the APC scribe may be relying on outdated information regarding Wike’s political status. He stressed that Wike and his supporters were expelled from the PDP, arguing that this explains why the APC now finds itself in a difficult position after embracing him.
“The National Secretary of the APC may genuinely not know who is or is not a member of the PDP, and may therefore be relying on outdated information suggesting that Wike was a PDP member. Wike was expelled from the PDP, along with his supporters, and that is why we sympathise with the problem the APC has brought upon itself by engaging Wike; someone they now lack the moral or legal standing to disown,” Ememobong said.
He added that the APC could not complain about a situation it willingly created, noting that political and legal principles do not allow a party to benefit from a wrongdoing and later claim injury from it.
“The law does not allow you to benefit from a wrong you created, nor can you complain of a voluntary injury. You cannot complain about an act you willingly undertook. So they should manage the situation they have created. After all, what was once seen as an asset has now become a liability, and they must deal with it,” he stated.
The PDP spokesman rejected attempts to draw the opposition party into the controversy, stressing that the same conduct now being criticised by the APC was previously applauded when it appeared to favour the ruling party.
He noted that Basiru and other APC leaders raised no objections when Wike’s actions aligned with their interests, arguing that the current complaints lack credibility.
Ememobong said political actors must be consistent and principled, insisting that wrongdoing should be condemned regardless of party affiliation. He stressed that the PDP would not hesitate to call out any member who engages in anti-party activities or openly aligns with another political party.
He further stated that whatever political benefits arose from Wike’s actions accrued solely to the APC and that the ruling party must now manage the consequences.
“What the APC is experiencing is a voluntary injury they inflicted on themselves, so they must manage him. After all, the benefits of this nuisance accrued to the APC, and they must now manage the fallout,” he said.
Using a metaphor, Ememobong warned against nurturing political relationships without considering long-term consequences, suggesting that the APC’s current predicament was self-inflicted.
What you should know
The PDP is distancing itself from the growing controversy surrounding Nyesom Wike’s political role in Rivers State, insisting he no longer belongs to the party.
By shifting responsibility to the APC, the opposition argues that the ruling party knowingly embraced Wike for strategic gains and must now handle the political consequences.
The dispute highlights deeper tensions within the APC over influence in Rivers politics and reflects broader challenges of cross-party alliances in Nigeria’s political landscape.
