Abuja, October 15, 2025 – In a triumphant address that blended political vindication with fervent praise for the current administration, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, declared on Wednesday that the sweeping defections of key Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders and state governors to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have fully justified his bold decision to back President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Speaking at the high-profile flag-off ceremony for the construction of the main carriageways on the Outer Southern Expressway in Abuja, Wike turned what could have been a routine infrastructure event into a rallying cry for national unity under Tinubu's leadership.
The Outer Southern Expressway project, a colossal infrastructure initiative spanning over 45 kilometers and designed to decongest Abuja's bustling southern corridors, symbolizes the transformative agenda of the Tinubu administration. With an estimated cost exceeding NGN 1.2 trillion and expected completion within 36 months, the expressway will feature six lanes in each direction, intelligent traffic systems, and green energy integrations. Wike's speech, delivered under a canopy of fluttering APC flags and amid cheers from thousands of attendees—including contractors, community leaders, and federal officials—wove the project's groundbreaking directly into his narrative of political redemption and economic revival.
"I have been watching on daily television and social media," Wike began, his voice booming through the speakers as he gestured animatedly, "people who said I want to destabilise the party, I am working for the APC. All of them are now in the APC. So, which means if it is true, they should commend me for working for where they are heading. So, I should be commended for doing a good job for them." The crowd erupted in applause, a clear acknowledgment of the irony that has gripped Nigeria's political landscape over the past year.
Wike's defection from the PDP to the APC in 2022, alongside his endorsement of Tinubu during the contentious 2023 presidential elections, had sparked fierce backlash from his former allies. Accusations of betrayal and sabotage flew thick and fast, with PDP stalwarts labeling him a "mole" undermining the opposition's unity. Fast-forward to 2025, and the tables have turned dramatically. Over a dozen PDP governors, including heavyweights from states like Enugu, Adamawa, and Taraba, have crossed over to the APC, citing irreconcilable internal crises and the allure of Tinubu's economic reforms. High-profile senators, House members, and even the PDP's national chairman have followed suit, swelling APC ranks to an unprecedented supermajority in the National Assembly.
This mass exodus, Wike argued, is not mere opportunism but a collective recognition of Tinubu's "decisive leadership" that has reshaped Nigeria's fiscal fortunes. Drawing from his own eight-year tenure as Governor of Rivers State (2015–2023), Wike painted a vivid contrast between the past and present. "Let every state be sincere to their people, and to Nigerians," he urged, his tone shifting to one of seasoned authority. "I was a governor for eight years. I was a governor running around banks to look for money to do projects. Sometimes, every month, the money that comes will not be enough to pay salaries and all other allowances, not to talk about doing projects."
Those were the dark days of Nigeria's federation account woes, when monthly allocations from the Federal Government often fell short due to oil price volatility, pipeline vandalism, and inefficient revenue-sharing formulas. Governors like Wike spent more time in negotiation rooms with bankers than on project sites, securing high-interest loans that ballooned state debts to over NGN 5 trillion by 2022. Rivers State alone racked up NGN 200 billion in borrowings, much of it funneled into critical infrastructure like the Trans-Kalabari Road and Omoku Power Plant—laudable but debt-laden legacies.
"Today, by the leadership of somebody, by the decisive leadership of somebody who has made it possible for all the states, and the Federal Capital Territory, not to be running around banks again," Wike continued, his eyes lighting up with genuine enthusiasm. "Rather, banks are now looking for states to say ‘look, don’t throw us away, we are here’. Somebody has made that possible; every state now has money. Not only to pay salaries, not only to carry out government activities, but also to embark on projects. It was not like that before."
At the heart of this turnaround is President Tinubu's "Renewed Hope Agenda," launched in May 2023, which prioritized fiscal discipline, revenue diversification, and infrastructure-led growth. Key reforms include the removal of the petrol subsidy in June 2023, which saved Nigeria over NGN 5 trillion annually; the unification of foreign exchange windows, stabilizing the naira; and the activation of the Tax Reform Bills, boosting non-oil revenues by 40% in 2024. Consequently, federation allocations surged: the FCT's monthly inflow jumped from NGN 25 billion in 2022 to NGN 65 billion in 2025, while states like Lagos and Kano now receive upwards of NGN 100 billion monthly.
This windfall has unleashed a construction boom nationwide. In Abuja alone, Wike's ministry has flagged off 14 road projects worth NGN 3.5 trillion since Tinubu's inauguration, including the ongoing Abuja Light Rail extension and the Vice President's Residence. The Outer Southern Expressway, awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, is the crown jewel: a dual-carriageway behemoth linking the Airport Road to the Gwagwalada-Kubwa axis, complete with underpasses, solar-powered lighting, and pedestrian bridges. "This project will cut travel time from Abuja's south to the city center by 70%, easing traffic for over 2 million daily commuters and boosting real estate values by 30%," Wike explained, flanked by engineers displaying 3D models.
Wike described his defection and support for Tinubu as "worthwhile," emphasizing its tangible benefits for governance continuity. "So, if, for that reason, so many people are going to support Mr President, I think it is worthwhile," he declared. "Now, no governor will talk about leaving debts for his successor, unlike what used to happen before. That is the leadership of somebody. And that’s what this country needs for now. Visionary leadership, purposeful leadership, that will be able to take decisions. Decisions that people were running away from taking when they had the opportunity."
Indeed, under Tinubu, state debt profiles have stabilized. The Debt Management Office reports a 15% reduction in subnational borrowings since 2023, with governors now prioritizing capital projects over recurrent spending. In Rivers State, Wike's successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara—an APC defector—has launched 25 new roads without a single loan. Similar stories echo from Oyo, where Governor Seyi Makinde (another recent APC joiner) cleared pension backlogs and initiated the NGN 500 billion Ibadan Circular Rail.
The event was not without political theater. PDP loyalists protesting nearby decried the defections as "betrayal," but Wike dismissed them lightheartedly: "They called me a destabilizer; now they're stabilizing with us!" Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, commended Wike as "the engine of Abuja's renaissance," pledging additional NGN 500 billion for FCT projects in 2026.
As bulldozers roared to life, symbolizing progress, Wike's address resonated beyond Abuja. It underscores a seismic shift in Nigerian politics: the PDP, once a formidable opposition, now controls only 12 governorships, down from 15 in 2023. Analysts predict APC could sweep the 2027 elections, propelled by economic gains—GDP growth hit 4.2% in Q3 2025, inflation dipped to 18%, and unemployment fell to 28%.
Wike's vindication is personal yet profoundly national. From a criticized defector to a celebrated minister overseeing NGN 10 trillion in FCT investments, his journey mirrors Nigeria's. "This expressway isn't just concrete and asphalt," he concluded. "It's the road to a united, prosperous Nigeria under President Tinubu." As the sun set over the construction site, one thing was clear: Wike's words had not just rewritten his story—they were paving the way for the nation's future.
