Former National Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jacob Mark, has lashed out at the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over his recent remarks dismissing the possibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan and ex-Labour Party candidate Peter Obi contesting the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking in an interview with Arise News on Wednesday, Mark expressed shock at Wike’s interference in PDP affairs despite his absence from party meetings and decision-making processes.
“We can say without any doubt that Wike is not a member of the PDP. He has not attended any meetings, he has not made contributions to decisions, yet he goes on air to issue directives. It is strange,” Mark stated.
He accused Wike of trying to dictate the direction of the PDP from outside the party, describing the minister’s posture as “alien” to committed members. According to him, Wike’s self-importance is misplaced, given his lack of participation in the party’s internal structure.
Reacting to Wike’s description of Jonathan’s 2015 defeat as an embarrassment, Mark defended the former president, stressing that Jonathan’s decision to concede peacefully was an act of statesmanship that saved Nigeria from potential post-election violence.
Wike had earlier warned that bringing Jonathan or Obi back into the PDP fold would be a “big mistake,” arguing that such a move could destabilize the party’s zoning arrangement and weaken its 2027 chances.
Mark, however, dismissed these comments as mere grandstanding, insisting that Wike no longer has the authority to influence PDP’s internal affairs.
