The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has publicly mocked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stating he is surprised the party still exists and suggesting it should be allowed to die. His remarks came on Wednesday during the commissioning of a road project in the Gaduwa District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Akpabio’s comments were directed at the recent emergence of a PDP candidate in an election, which he seemed to view as an anomaly given the party’s perceived decline.
Speaking at the event, Akpabio expressed disbelief that the PDP remains active in Nigerian politics. “I didn’t know there was still PDP,” he said. “I am sure he is somewhere and so many other distinguished senators, members of the working committee of the people of the APC, Wike stop confusing us, if a party has died allow it to die.” He emphasized that any political entity that has ceased to function effectively should not be given space to re-emerge. “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,” he added.
The Senate President’s comments reflect growing political tension between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition PDP. His remarks were not only a critique of the PDP’s current state but also a clear message to its leadership and supporters. Akpabio’s tone was dismissive, indicating a lack of respect for the party’s relevance in contemporary Nigerian politics.
In the same address, Akpabio praised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for his performance in Abuja. He described Wike as a “performing minister” whose work has set a new standard for governance in the FCT. “In the meantime my dear brother, the minister of the FCT, the performing minister of the FCT, who made his predecessors to look like there came to drink tea in Abuja — all these things they are doing, I can tell you, people are baffled,” Akpabio said. He commended both Wike and President Bola Tinubu for what he called “miracles” in the capital’s development.
The road project commissioned in Gaduwa is part of ongoing infrastructure upgrades in Abuja aimed at improving transportation and urban mobility. Akpabio’s visit to the site underscored the federal government’s commitment to revitalizing the FCT. His public endorsement of Wike’s work may also be seen as a strategic move to strengthen support for the minister within the APC.
As Nigeria’s political landscape continues to evolve, Akpabio’s comments on the PDP could signal a broader narrative within the APC about consolidating power and marginalizing opposition parties. His remarks, while controversial, highlight the deepening divide between the ruling party and its rivals. The future of the PDP, especially in light of such public criticism, remains uncertain.
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