Wike Explains Why PDP Rejected David Mark As National Chairman

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revealed that he and other influential members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) resisted attempts to make former Senate President David Mark the National Chairman of the party.

Wike made the disclosure on Monday during a media chat, where he discussed internal party leadership struggles and his stance on choosing reform-oriented leaders over established political figures.

“Let me tell you something,” Wike began. “When we started having issues of National Chairman in North-Central, there was pressure for David Mark to be National Chairman of PDP. We refused.”

When asked why he opposed the move despite Mark’s long political career, Wike was blunt: “Why not? What good will he bring to the party?”

The former Rivers State governor questioned Mark’s contributions during his eight-year tenure as Senate President.

“He has been a Senate President in the party for eight years. What are the things that happened? What is the improvement?” Wike asked rhetorically.

According to him, occupying high offices without leaving a legacy of development should not be a ticket to leading the party.

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Wike explained that he would rather support a fresh face with genuine intentions to reform the PDP than politicians who have held power for years without meaningful contributions.

“I prefer somebody who has not had any position, who has come to tell me that, ‘Look, I am doing this because I want to help with change, to achieve this and that,’” he said.

The minister added that long-serving politicians who failed to address the country’s challenges while in office should not present themselves as agents of change now.

“I will not listen to anybody who has been in power for years, who has refused to contribute anything to the development of the country, and now you come to tell me this story that, ‘Look, we need to rescue this country.’ You were there, the country was sinking—did you rescue it?” he queried.

Wike’s comments come amid renewed debates within the PDP over leadership restructuring and preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.