Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, says the defection of the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and 15 other lawmakers from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a consequence of deepening internal divisions within the PDP.

Speaking in Abuja after inspecting road projects, Wike said the lawmakers acted within the constitutional provisions, given the factionalisation of the party.

“It is unfortunate. I have always said everybody has the right to make a choice. The party is fully factionalised, and the Constitution allows members to leave when such a situation occurs,” he said.

Wike, however, insisted he has no plans to leave the PDP. “I am still in the PDP. You will see that it is not everybody that has left. I believe 16 or 17 of them have left out of 27. We still have about 10, and we will continue to work together,” he noted.

He urged PDP leaders to quickly address the crisis rocking the party, warning that failure to act would further weaken the organisation.

“At the end of the day, if you don’t put your house in order, it is the party that is losing,” he added.

Reacting to social media claims that he had been arrested in France, Wike dismissed the reports as politically motivated lies.

“People will like to distract you, but the moment you are focused and know what you are doing, you will not be perturbed,” he said.

He recalled past rumours claiming he was ill or flown abroad for treatment, describing them as attempts to discredit him.

“As far as my boss, the President, is happy with what I am doing, and I’m focused on delivering the mandate, people will say all kinds of things,” he added.

Wike said consistent performance would eventually silence critics.
“Critics will always try to play politics. Just focus. Do not be distracted at all,” he said.