Adedeji Doherty, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for Lagos State governor, has defended his political alliance with Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), despite Wike’s support for President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Doherty addressed the apparent contradiction between his party’s opposition stance and his loyalty to a minister in the APC-led Federal Government during a debate on Sunday. The event, focused on the 2027 Lagos State governorship race, was organized by a consortium of major Nigerian media outlets, including Channels Television, TVC, Punch Newspapers, Vanguard Newspapers, and The Cable.
When asked how he intended to provide a credible opposition alternative while emerging from a PDP faction loyal to Wike, Doherty argued that political differences and shifting alliances are inherent to democratic practice. He maintained that Wike’s relationship with the Federal Government does not make him an enemy of democracy, but rather a figure who facilitates tangible benefits for various levels of government.
“My emergence in the People’s Democratic Party is out of 26 years of hard work, consistency, determination, and continued support for the grassroots. I have built a grassroots structure right from scratch, and I know there are a lot of people here that can testify to that,” Doherty said.
The PDP candidate reaffirmed his loyalty to Wike, describing the FCT minister as both his political leader and the national leader of his faction. Doherty emphasized that his candidacy was the result of decades of political commitment and grassroots engagement, asserting that he had built his political structure from the ground up and enjoyed broad support across the state.
Doherty further justified the political arrangement by highlighting its practical outcomes, stating that the relationship between Wike and President Tinubu has helped secure government support and funding for governors nationwide. He noted that this collaboration has resulted in financial resources reaching the pockets of governors in different states, reinforcing his view that the alliance serves the public interest.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
