The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has urged the newly inaugurated members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to intensify efforts to bring back members who defected to other political parties.

The Minister made the call during a visit to the party leaders led by Abduraham Mohammed at the PDP headquarters, Wadata Plaza, Abuja, on Friday.

Wike said the PDP remains the main opposition party in the country.

According to him, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) cannot claim to be the major opposition party, having not secured electoral victories.

Wike said, “I can see the work that has taken place. That shows that you are ready to kick-start activities. Let me also congratulate you on taking that bold initiative. My coming here this morning is to reassure you of my support for the members of the National Working Committee.

“Yes, elections have been held. After elections, you will need the support of every party member, morally and otherwise. And so, I’ve come here to pledge my support and my loyalty to all of you.”

While expressing confidence in the leadership’s ability to restore the party’s lost glory, Wike said “Yes, we had a crisis, and we have almost come out of the crisis. It is not going to be easy. It requires a lot of hard work. It requires a lot of sacrifice for you to move the party forward. I know that you have old hands there; you have the National Secretary, the Legal Adviser, and the Zonal Vice Chairmen, and particularly the oldest one is the South-South.

“So, you have old hands that will guide you and give you all the necessary support. Continue to bring out programmes that will continue to make the party popular.

“Today we are not in government, but this is the main opposition party as far as this country is concerned. You cannot become a main opposition party without winning elections. So those who say that they are leading the opposition have never contested in any election. The one they contested is the Abuja Municipal Area Council; they could not get one councillor.

“So, how can they be the leading opposition party? They are claiming that people are defecting to their party, and that’s how they become the leading opposition. Yet again, they criticise people who are defecting to other parties—that is wrong—but those defecting to their own party—that is right. That tells you the kind of leadership they want to give to Nigerians.”

He also called on the NWC members to do what they can “to bring back our members who have defected, thinking that the party would no longer come back. Make sure you attract them back into the fold, talk to them, and send a powerful team to interact with them. Most of them are afraid if they will get a ticket or not. You know what to do.”

On his part, the National Chairman, Mohammed, welcomed the Minister to the party’s national headquarters, assuring that the new leadership is committed to strengthening the PDP, supporting its aspirants, and repositioning the party for success ahead of the 2027 elections across the country.. (Daily Trust)