The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has vowed not to leave the Peoples’ Democratic Party because of “vampires.” Wike made the claim when he spoke with newsmen on Wednesday. Responding to questions about the possibility of his exit from the party in the light of the ongoing crisis both in the Rivers PDP and at the national level, Wike said he would not run from the fight, or the “vampires” in the party.
“I’ve told you I do not run from any fight. I will stay there; I will fight it out. Who am I going to run from? The vampires? How can you say that?” he responded.
The minister also said that he could join the All-Progressives Congress (APC) if he wanted, noting that he maintained his integrity by refusing to support the PDP presidential candidate during the 2023 elections, while still delivering wins for the party in Rivers.
“Can I tell you something? Anybody who knows me knows too well if I want to join APC today; when I was in then PDP, didn’t I say that I would not support your presidential candidate? Did I do it secretly?
“All those people who are saying those things, did they bring one member who has won an election? Did the PDP not win? I stood my ground on the principle that if this is not done, we will not accept it. People should know you for something. Integrity is very important,” he said.
Also echoing the same sentiment, the party’s acting national chairman, Iliya Damagum while inaugurating the PDP reconciliation committees at the national secretariat in Abuja, said he would not be intimidated out of office.
Reacting to those calling for his exit, Damagum said, “My door has always been open. So, nobody is going to intimidate me into abdicating my responsibility.
“You can say all sorts of things. I know this is a buildup to the next election,” he said, adding that those asking him to go had made him famous.
“Honestly speaking, I’ve started contemplating throwing myself into the ring and vying for the presidency of this country. I’m not deterred because I’ve become popular, even though the negative publicity is meant to bring me down.”
