ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed complaints by the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the political activities of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, insisting that the ruling party must live with the consequences of its own choices in Rivers State.
The opposition party said the APC knowingly aligned with Wike for political advantage and therefore lacks the moral right to protest now that the relationship has become contentious.
The PDP’s position was made public on Tuesday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, while reacting to the escalating war of words between Wike and the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, over developments in Rivers politics.
Ememobong said Wike is no longer a member of the PDP, stressing that his expulsion from the party had long been concluded before the APC chose to engage him.
According to him, the APC cannot now distance itself from Wike after openly benefiting from his political influence.
“The APC National Secretary may genuinely be unaware of Wike’s status and still relying on outdated information,” Ememobong said.
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“Wike was expelled from the PDP along with his supporters. That is why we sympathise with the problem the APC has created for itself by engaging someone it now lacks the moral or legal standing to disown.”
He argued that the ruling party willingly entered into the arrangement and therefore cannot complain about its outcome.
“You cannot benefit from a wrong you created, nor can you complain about an injury you willingly inflicted on yourself. What the APC is facing today is a situation of its own making, and it must manage it,” he added.
The PDP spokesman rejected attempts to draw his party into the controversy, noting that the conduct now being criticised was previously applauded by the APC when it appeared politically useful.
“When this same conduct favoured the APC, they were celebrating. Not once did the National Secretary complain,” Ememobong said.
“They cannot suddenly discover principles now that the arrangement has become inconvenient.”
He maintained that the PDP would not shy away from calling out improper political conduct regardless of party affiliation.
“If someone engages in anti-party activity or openly aligns with another party, it is only right to say so. You either join a party properly, remain independent, or support openly anything else does not look good,” he stated.
Ememobong concluded that the APC alone enjoyed whatever political advantage came from Wike’s actions and must now contend with the fallout.
“What they are experiencing is the consequence of a voluntary injury. The benefits accrued to them; the burden must also be theirs,” he said.