APC Comments on Wike, Fayose’s Removal from PDP
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has mocked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over its deepening internal crisis, which worsened at the weekend with the expulsion of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, and other top party figures.
The turmoil followed the PDP’s 20th national convention in Ibadan, which was marred by conflicting court orders, boycotts, and public dissent from two sitting PDP governors.
Reacting to the chaos, the APC Deputy National Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, in an interview with Punch, said the ruling party would not speculate on the opposition’s misfortune but noted that the situation reflects “persistent leadership failures” within the PDP.
Duru said the APC would not interfere in the PDP’s internal collapse but was open to teaching the opposition how to run a functional political party.
“We can only speak with respect to what we do as a party and not to speculate as to what others are doing in their party. Our wish is that the other parties, and that includes PDP, would be able to get their acts together,” he said.
He added pointedly, “It is not for the APC to help them get their acts together. Regrettable as it is, if they want education on how to run a party and how to engage with their members, we are more than happy to undertake a crash programme for them on what to do and how to run their political party.”
The APC chieftain mocked the factionalisation that saw only one PDP camp attend the Ibadan convention before issuing contradictory statements on Wike and Fayose’s expulsion.
‘We Don’t Know Who Is In Charge Of PDP’
Responding to questions on whether the APC would welcome the expelled PDP “political juggernauts,” Duru dismissed the speculation entirely.
He said the opposition party had become so divided that it was unclear who held legitimate authority.
“We have no such indication. We are not under any illusion that this is the case. We don’t even know who to speak with in the body of the PDP. There is one camp that belongs to one group and another set of people also claiming legitimacy,” he stated.
Duru also referenced the positions of the Adamawa and Plateau governors, who distanced themselves from the expulsions, as further proof of the PDP’s fractured state.
Despite the taunts, Duru stressed that the APC does not desire the total collapse of the PDP, noting that a democracy thrives on a viable opposition.
“It is the wish of the APC that since we are in a democracy, every opportunity must be given to the PDP to be seen to exist and not to go down,” he said.
He added that if the PDP sought guidance, the ruling party was ready to help stabilise the opposition.
“Should they require leadership and understanding on how to run a political party, we are more than happy to send from our ranks people who are well-equipped,” he said.