BREAKING: Political Earthquake in Rivers – Wike Abandons PDP, Orders Loyalists to Join APC
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FCT Minister Moves to Reposition Political Base Ahead of 2027 Elections
Port Harcourt/Abuja – In a dramatic political realignment following the Supreme Court’s final judgment on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership tussle, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has reportedly directed his loyalists in Rivers State to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to sources quoted by SaharaReporters, Wike, on Friday night, instructed his loyal PDP loyalists in Rivers State to leave the opposition party and immediately begin the process of obtaining APC nomination forms.
By Saturday, they had reportedly commenced the process, signalling a major realignment in the state’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
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What the Source Said
“Wike has moved on following the Supreme Court’s final judgment. On Friday night, he directed his PDP loyalists in Rivers State to defect to the APC, and by yesterday (Saturday), they had begun obtaining APC nomination forms,” a source disclosed.
The move comes in the wake of the apex court’s ruling, which has intensified speculation about Wike’s next political steps as he positions himself for the 2027 electoral cycle.
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Supreme Court Ruling: Wike’s Faction Loses
Developments within the PDP took a dramatic turn following the Supreme Court’s final judgment on the party’s protracted leadership tussle.
A Certified True Copy (CTC) of the apex court’s ruling, sighted on Friday by THISDAY, revealed that the faction loyal to Wike lost the battle for control of the party.
According to the report, the court unanimously dismissed both:
| Appeal | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Wike’s cross-appeal | ❌ Dismissed |
| Main appeal by the Tanimu Turaki-led faction (aligned with Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde) | ❌ Dismissed |
PDP Rejects Purported CTC
In a swift response, Abdulrahman Mohammed, who claims to be the leader of the PDP, rejected the reported CTC as unofficial.
He insisted that the Supreme Court judgment recognised him as the party’s National Chairman and Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary.
In a statement, the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Mohammed Haruna Jagunda, dismissed the document being circulated, arguing that it failed to meet the standards required for a properly certified court judgment.
PDP’s Official Statement
The PDP stated that a careful review of the purported CTC revealed that its pages were neither duly certified, stamped, nor signed by any authorised court official, contrary to established legal procedures.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has become aware of the circulation of a purported Certified True Copy (CTC) of the recent Supreme Court judgment relating to matters concerning the party,” the statement read.
The party insisted that the document failed to meet the recognised standards for certifying official court records and should therefore not be regarded as an authentic copy of the Supreme Court judgment.
It further stated:
“The PDP wishes to categorically state that the document currently in circulation was not officially released by the Supreme Court. A careful examination of the purported CTC reveals that it falls short of the established requirements for proper certification of official court documents. The pages were neither duly certified, stamped, nor signed by any authorised court officer in accordance with legally recognised procedures.”
“However, assuming without conceding that the said CTC was officially released by the Supreme Court, we make bold to state that the contents of the judgment further affirm the defeat suffered by Kabiru Turaki and others from the Federal High Court up to the Supreme Court.”
“The contents of the purported Certified True Copy have conclusively exposed the falsehoods and deliberate misinformation circulated by certain individuals regarding the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”
What This Means for Rivers State Politics
| Factor | Implication |
|---|---|
| Wike’s PDP Loyalists | Now defecting to APC |
| APC in Rivers State | Receives a major boost with Wike-backed loyalists |
| Governor Siminalayi Fubara | Emerges as a major PDP figure in Rivers without Wike’s influence |
| 2027 Elections | APC gains a stronger foothold in traditionally PDP-dominated Rivers State |
Key Players at a Glance
| Player | Current Position | Political Move |
|---|---|---|
| Nyesom Wike | FCT Minister | Moving loyalists from PDP to APC |
| Abdulrahman Mohammed | Claims PDP National Chairmanship | Rejects CTC, insists on his leadership |
| Governor Siminalayi Fubara | Rivers State Governor | Potentially leading the PDP structure in Rivers without Wike’s influence |
Read Also (Related Stories)
Supreme Court PDP Judgment: Full Analysis of What the CTC Actually Says
Wike vs Fubara: How the Rivers Political Crisis Escalated
APC Gains Big as Wike Loyalists Flood the Party With Defections
Bottom Line
The political landscape in Rivers State is shifting rapidly.
With the Supreme Court appearing to have dealt a blow to Wike’s PDP faction, the FCT Minister has reportedly made his next move by directing his loyalists to align with the APC.
Attention is now focused on whether the defections will trigger a broader political realignment in Rivers State and beyond ahead of the 2027 elections.
Ejes Gist News will continue to monitor the developing story as more details emerge regarding the defections and the authentic Supreme Court judgment.
