FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has criticised Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, over his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing the move as “very embarrassing”.
Wike expressed shock that Diri, who was still playing a major role in PDP’s preparations for its national convention, suddenly walked away from the party.
The Bayelsa governor resigned on October 15 while heading the PDP zoning committee for the November convention.
Speaking during a media chat on Friday in Abuja, Wike said Diri’s exit confirmed the warnings he had issued over internal issues tearing the opposition apart.
“It is very embarrassing. The governor was the chairman of the convention committee. Diri was the chairman of the zoning committee. Even though I knew from the beginning that they were all playing games,” he said.
The FCT Minister noted that the defection did not surprise him, as he had repeatedly cautioned PDP leaders about losing major figures if the party failed to act.
“Have I not said that so many governors will leave? Is it the first time you’ve heard me say so? Nothing I said has not come to pass. From day one, I said if things are not done properly, PDP will continue to lose — and we will regret it,” he added.
He accused certain governors of ignoring due process and promoting impunity in the party, a development he believes has pushed loyal members away.
When asked if the defections would strengthen the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Wike declined to make predictions. He however insisted that a “political tsunami” was underway and that the PDP must take responsibility for its decline.
Dismissing claims that his criticism is rooted in personal grievances over the 2022 presidential primaries, Wike said his stance is based on principles, arguing that the PDP is already weakened by its own internal mismanagement.
In a related development, Wike had earlier remarked that those who publicly berated him for supposedly destabilising the PDP are now joining the APC — suggesting that his earlier warnings are being borne out.
