I didn’t know there is still PDP, says Akpabio

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday took a swipe at the Peoples Democratic Party, saying he was surprised the opposition party was still in existence and urging the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to allow it “die.”

Akpabio made the remarks while representing President Bola Tinubu at the inauguration of Akinwumi Ajibola Street in the Gaduwa District of Abuja.

The Senate President made the comment while acknowledging dignitaries at the event, including Senator Olaka Nwogu, who recently won the Rivers South-East Senatorial District by-election on the platform of the PDP.

Calling the names of senators present, Akpabio said, “Senator Olaka Nwogu, who, to my understanding, just won an election. I didn’t know there was still PDP. I am sure he is somewhere, and so many other distinguished senators, members of the working committee of the APC.

“Wike, stop confusing us. If a party has died, allow it to die,” Akpabio said.

He added, “So, members of the working committee, I won’t discuss anything on the working committee of the PDP. Like I said, anything that has died has died.”

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Nwogu was declared the winner of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District by-election by the Independent National Electoral Commission after polling 47,961 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress candidate, Osar Erewari, who scored 1,647 votes.

The by-election was conducted following the death of Senator Barry Mpigi in February.

Akpabio also praised Wike for what he described as his performance as FCT minister, saying the transformation of Abuja under his leadership had impressed many Nigerians.

“In the meantime, my dear brother, the Minister of the FCT, the performing Minister of the FCT, who has made his predecessors look like they came to drink tea in Abuja, all these things they are doing, I can tell you people are baffled. You and the President are performing miracles here,” he said.

Wike, a member of the PDP, serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory in the APC-led administration of Tinubu.

His continued role in the Federal Government has fuelled internal disagreements within the PDP.