Wike Can’t Claim PDP National Leader Position While Supporting Tinubu — Dan Ulasi

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dan Ulasi, has criticised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over what he described as contradictory political conduct, warning that his continued alignment with President Bola Tinubu undermines his standing within the opposition party.

Ulasi, speaking during an interview on Arise News Channel breakfast show on Thursday, said Wike cannot lay claim to the national leadership role of the PDP while openly supporting a government led by a rival political party.

Addressing the current crisis within the party, Ulasi revealed that he had confronted Wike directly over his political stance.

“But be that as it may, the situation right now is that the last time we met, I told Wike that you cannot claim to be the national leader of the PDP and be supporting Tinubu. That is very unconstructive and very difficult to explain,” he stated.

“The PDP situation is one that is very touching to me,” Ulasi said, as he reflected on his longstanding history with the party.

“I was just looking at the pictures two days ago in my house when we were forming PDP. I was the one standing directly behind late Dr. Alex Ekwueme and a couple of other people by my side, and Atiku Abubakar and his group were at the other side, and that was how PDP was formed,” he recalled.

He noted that his deep-rooted involvement in the formation of the party was the reason he has remained reluctant to leave despite ongoing internal challenges.

“That is why you see that I am very, very reluctant. I told you people that once I leave the PDP, I will just be a private consultant to anybody who comes to ask me questions. I will not enter any other party because I have never done that in the past,” he said.

Ulasi argued that Wike’s actions were inconsistent with party loyalty, especially at a time when the PDP has yet to conduct its primaries or produce a presidential candidate.

“Because you cannot claim to be the national leader of a party that has not conducted its primaries, nobody has emerged as the candidate. If I emerge as the candidate, why will he be doing—will he be attending conventions of that of the APC? That is the question Wike has to ask himself,” he added.

The PDP stalwart further hinted at the possibility of withdrawing from future party engagements if his concerns were not addressed.

“And when we meet in the next meeting, which might be the last that I will attend if I am not satisfied with the explanations given,” Ulasi added.