“PDP’s Self-Inflicted Crisis: Okonkwo’s Take on Wike and the APC Influence”
Kenneth Okonkwo, the former spokesperson for the Labour Party, has pointed the finger at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), blaming its leadership for the crisis that has destabilized the party. According to Okonkwo, PDP leaders have essentially become subservient to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), with little regard for the party’s true political standing.
Speaking on Channel Television’s Sunrise Daily program on February 7, 2025, Okonkwo emphasized that the PDP’s troubles began with President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of Nyesom Wike, a former PDP governor, as a minister. Wike’s move, after betraying his own party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, led to a significant loss of influence for the PDP as an opposition force.
“Look at what is happening within the PDP,” Okonkwo remarked. “Some members, like the G5 group, openly worked against the party’s interests, and yet, the leadership accommodated them. By accepting such actions, the party allowed itself to be hijacked, with the true members now playing second fiddle to Wike, who is now a minister in the APC.”
Okonkwo stressed that this shift has led to a situation where PDP’s leadership is now answering to Wike, who is essentially working in favor of the ruling party, turning the PDP into “a servant of servants.”
Okonkwo Criticizes Atiku’s Bribery Claims
Okonkwo also weighed in on Atiku Abubakar’s recent statement, where the former Vice President claimed that the APC bribes opposition parties to weaken them ahead of the 2027 election. Okonkwo swiftly rejected Atiku’s argument, suggesting that such a claim actually exposes the corruption within opposition parties.
“I don’t blame the APC for using all means to undermine its opponents,” Okonkwo said. “It’s a legitimate strategy in politics. But the real shame is on the opposition parties themselves. If they accept bribes, they are just as corrupt as the party that offers them. A willing receiver makes a willing giver, and in this case, the opposition parties are the ones failing.”
He emphasized that Atiku’s allegations were an indictment of the opposition, not the ruling APC. The opposition parties, according to Okonkwo, are the ones to blame for their own failures and the crisis they now face.
Opposition Needs to Take Responsibility for Its Failures
Okonkwo did not hold back in his criticism of the opposition, calling on them to take responsibility for their own failings and not blame external forces like the APC. “The opposition parties have not lived up to the expectations of the Nigerian people,” he remarked. “They need to take responsibility and reject any offers from the ruling party to destabilize them. Allowing themselves to be destabilized only proves their incompetence and corruption.”
Okonkwo’s comments come at a time when the opposition is grappling with internal strife, with several key members, including Wike, showing growing allegiance to the APC. His call for self-reflection within the opposition aims to push for reform and reclaim political credibility before the next election cycle.
