The Chairman of PDP Advocate for Peace and Justice (PAPaJ), Dr. Tom FredFish, has expressed confidence that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State will emerge stronger despite recent high-profile defections that have rocked the party.

In June 2025, the PDP suffered a significant setback when Governor Umo Eno and several lawmakers abandoned the party to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), raising concerns about the future of the opposition party in the state.

Speaking to journalists in Uyo on Monday, FredFish assured that committed members have initiated a rebuilding process to restore the party's former glory.

"PDP is still existing and the people remaining in PDP are people of integrity, people that are committed to the party, who know how to rebuild, who can build the party to become what it used to be before the exit of certain persons," he stated.

"I see PDP becoming strong, I see a future in PDP in Akwa Ibom State if what is being planned to do is done properly," FredFish added.

Call for Wike's Expulsion

The PDP chieftain took a strong stance against Nyesom Wike, the current Minister of Federal Capital Territory, who remains a PDP member despite working closely with the APC-led federal government.

"I have said it before that they should expel Wike from the party with immediate effect. He is like a cankerworm, the type of worm that the Bible talks about that comes to your house with the purpose of killing, destroying and uprooting," FredFish declared.

He further accused Wike of having a destructive agenda against the party, questioning why the PDP leadership has not taken decisive action against him.

"Wike is not in PDP to build the party; he is not in PDP as a party man. He is in PDP to destroy, his agenda is well known. So, my own is why can't he be expelled?" he questioned.

"He has called PDP all types of bad names in the world but why can't he leave that terrible party is the question that I have asked the PDP leaders and the Board and I have said it several times that the party can't grow, progress with someone like Nyesom Wike, so he should be expelled."

Moving Forward After Governor's Defection

Addressing Governor Umo Eno's defection to the APC, FredFish acknowledged the disappointment within PDP ranks but emphasized that the party has moved on from the development.

He suggested that the PDP's Board of Trustees should take legal action to reclaim states where governors have defected to other parties after being elected on the PDP platform, noting that such defections might not have been anticipated by the framers of Nigeria's constitution.

FredFish maintained that the party's future hinges on resolving its internal conflicts and removing members who are not genuinely committed to its ideals but are merely "members by association."

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