FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has reiterated his stance on the 2023 presidential election, stating that he has no regrets for working against his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday, Wike dismissed accusations of anti-party activities for his refusal to support Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s presidential candidate.

Wike, who was then governor of Rivers State, explained that his decision was guided by principles of justice, equity, and fairness. “For the presidential election, I said I am going to support equity, fairness, and justice. In the other one, I am going to support my party, and that is why we won the governorship and National Assembly elections,” Wike stated. He also emphasized that his actions were not anti-party, saying, “Today people say ‘discipline Wike, he did anti-party.’ I did not do anti-party.”

The former Rivers governor was part of the “G5” – a group of five aggrieved PDP governors, including Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu). The group opposed Atiku’s candidacy, demanding that Senator Iyorchia Ayu step down as PDP national chairman as a condition for their support. When these demands were not met, Wike and the others distanced themselves from Atiku’s presidential campaign.

Atiku ultimately lost the 2023 election to the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Tinubu, under whose administration Wike now serves as FCT Minister.

Wike’s recent comments highlight the enduring tension within the PDP, as well as his personal commitment to what he describes as principles of fairness, despite his current role in an APC-led government.