Wike defends 2023 election stance, says support for Tinubu was a principled decision rooted in equity, not disloyalty to the PDP.
A Familiar Storm Returns
In Nigeria’s often unpredictable political terrain, certain names consistently stir debate and Nyesom Wike is one of them.
Once the strongman of Rivers State and now the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Wike has again found himself in the eye of a political storm.
This time, it’s not about infrastructure or governance it’s about loyalty.
On Monday, Wike addressed swirling accusations of anti-party activities during the 2023 elections.
His message was blunt but clear:
Wike defends 2023 election stance, maintaining that his controversial support for President Bola Tinubu was neither a betrayal nor a defection it was a decision born of principle.
Why Wike Backed a Southern Candidate
Wike’s position centers on a familiar but unresolved issue in Nigerian politics: power rotation.
According to the former governor, his party the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) failed to honor what he described as a gentleman’s agreement to shift power to the South after years of northern rule.
“I said clearly then, and I’m repeating now based on equity, justice, and fairness, the presidency should go South,” he stated during the live media parley.
“You can’t have the presidency and national chairmanship in one region.”
He explained that his backing of Tinubu wasn’t a matter of defiance but of justice.
His stance, he said, was about restoring regional balance in the political structure.
This, Wike insists, is the foundation on which his entire political move was built.
Tinubu Over Atiku: Not Personal, Just Principle
One might expect that Wike’s decision to withhold support from Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate, stemmed from personal grievances. But Wike refutes that narrative.
“Some thought I was being emotional. I was not,” he said. “It was strategic and rooted in what I believed was right for the country and for the South.”
Wike’s message resonates with many Southern leaders who have long called for an end to the political dominance of the North.
He claims the PDP high command ignored these concerns and backed Atiku regardless.
Feeling marginalized, Wike made what he now defends as a rational choice.
“They thought Atiku would win, and they brushed fairness aside. I stood for balance. That was my only crime,” he said.
A Party Divided: Allies Who Walked Their Own Path
The 2023 elections exposed deep cracks within the PDP. Wike was not the only prominent figure to act independently.
He was quick to remind the public that other elder statesmen like Chief Bode George also backed alternative candidates.
“Bode George supported the Labour Party. I didn’t. I told them point-blank: Obi wouldn’t win,” Wike revealed.
“So I stayed true to the South, but also to what I believed was realistically possible.”
This position, while controversial, was not hidden. Wike made his views public long before the polls.
His argument? That strategic thinking should trump emotional decisions in politics.
While many focused on sentiments, Wike focused on structure and he acted accordingly.
‘I Never Left the PDP’
Perhaps the most important piece in Wike’s defense is this: he never actually left the PDP.
Critics often paint him as a defector in disguise, but Wike insists that he remained firmly within the PDP throughout the electoral season.
“If I was playing anti-party politics, how did PDP win Rivers governorship and all National Assembly seats?” he asked.
This achievement is significant. Rivers was one of the few PDP strongholds that delivered victories down the ballot, even as Wike supported a rival presidential candidate.
He points to this outcome as proof of his enduring commitment to the party at the state level.
In his words, “We delivered everything for PDP in Rivers, except the presidency. That was a conscious, transparent decision.”
The Burden of Being Strategic
Politics, by nature, demands strategy. And Wike appears to have mastered the art.
Supporting Tinubu while remaining loyal to PDP’s local ambitions was, to some, a delicate dance.
To others, it was a betrayal. But for Wike, it was a balance of competing priorities national equity versus party loyalty.
“Was I supposed to sit back and support a structure that disrespects the South? Never,” he said firmly.
By taking this approach, Wike defends 2023 election stance as both a political act and a moral one.
He believes that he did what many were afraid to do stand against an internal system he deemed unjust.
Beyond Elections: A Broader Message
Wike’s recent remarks go beyond just defending his actions. They signal a broader challenge to Nigeria’s major political parties:
honor your internal agreements or risk rebellion from within.
He argues that party structures must become more inclusive, and that decisions must reflect not just numbers but also fairness.
According to him, the lack of sincerity in PDP leadership circles is what drove him to act independently.
“I’m still PDP. But PDP must reform. Or people will continue to act as I did,” he warned.
This, perhaps, is the heart of his message. For Wike, 2023 was not just a one-time event it was a turning point. A moment when he chose values over obedience, clarity over compromise.
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A Loyal Critic or a Rebel Insider?
As the dust from the 2023 elections begins to settle, many now wonder where Wike truly stands.
Is he a loyal PDP stalwart with independent thinking, or is he a rebel waiting for the right moment to officially switch camps?
His critics lean toward the latter. But his record in Rivers State tells a different story one of a political tactician who kept his state aligned with the party,
even while challenging the party’s top decisions.
In his own words: “I didn’t betray PDP. I saved it in my state.”
The APC Connection: More Than Just an Alliance?
One major concern among political observers is whether Wike’s support for Tinubu signals a deeper connection with the APC.
Though he remains a PDP member, his growing rapport with APC leaders has raised questions about his long-term plans.
His current ministerial role, handed to him by Tinubu, only fuels speculation.
But again, Wike shrugs off these concerns.
“Tinubu appointed me because I delivered. Not because I crossed over. There’s a difference,” he said.
To Wike, appointments should be based on merit, not party lines. And his record, he believes, speaks for itself.
Politics, Loyalty, and the Long Game
In Nigeria, where political shifts happen often and without warning, Wike’s 2023 decisions will remain a talking point for years to come.
Whether you see him as principled or political, one thing is clear: he understands the long game.
By standing firm, even under criticism, Wike defends 2023 election stance as a bold move driven by a desire for fairness.
It wasn’t about defecting or disrupting but about challenging a system he felt had lost its balance.
He didn’t hide. He didn’t switch parties. And in his own eyes, he didn’t betray anyone.
Instead, he says: “I did what was right. And I’d do it again.”
Do you agree with Wike’s choice to back Tinubu while staying in PDP?
Drop your thoughts in the comment section. Let your voice be heard.
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