The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said the recent wave of defections by several governors and party leaders from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has vindicated his earlier support for President Bola Tinubu.
According to Wike, those who once accused him of undermining the PDP and secretly working for the APC are now openly members of the ruling party.
The Minister made this known on Wednesday during the flag-off ceremony for the construction of the main carriageways of the Outer Southern Expressway in Abuja.
Wike stated, “I’ve been watching on television and social media people who said I wanted to destabilise the PDP and was working for the APC. Interestingly, all of them are now in the APC. If that’s true, then they should commend me for doing a good job by paving the way for them. I should be applauded, not criticised.”
In the past 48 hours, the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, announced his resignation from the PDP and his defection to the APC, citing his commitment to national development under President Tinubu’s leadership. Similarly, Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, also resigned from the PDP on Wednesday alongside 19 members of the State House of Assembly.
This development makes Diri the fourth PDP governor to defect to the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections, reducing the party’s number of governors from 11 in October 2024 to just eight as of now.
Wike emphasized that under Tinubu’s leadership, no governor has an excuse for poor governance, noting that states now receive sufficient funds to pay salaries and execute projects.
“Let every state be sincere with their people. I was a governor for eight years, and I remember running around banks looking for funds to execute projects. Sometimes, the monthly allocation wasn’t even enough to pay salaries, not to mention carrying out development projects,” he recalled.
“Today, because of one person’s decisive leadership, states no longer have to beg banks. Instead, banks are now the ones offering support to states. Every state now has the capacity to pay salaries, fund government activities, and embark on infrastructure projects. That’s the kind of leadership Nigeria needs.”
Wike described the governors’ defection to the APC and support for President Tinubu as a wise and timely decision, noting that improved fiscal management will prevent states from leaving behind debts for their successors.
“So, if many are now aligning with President Tinubu because of his policies, I believe it’s justified. Now, no governor will talk about leaving debts behind, unlike before. That’s the mark of visionary and purposeful leadership — the kind of leadership Nigeria truly needs at this time,” he added.
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