The board of trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party has urged FCT minister Nyesom Wike to remain steadfast and focused, adding that the party and its members are proud of him.

The PDP trustees, led by Mao Ohuabunwa, stated this when they paid a condolence visit to the minister in Abuja on Tuesday, following the death of the party’s national vice chairman (South-South), Dan Orbih.

“We came here purely for two major reasons: to condole with and console our national leader, Nyesom Wike, on the demise of one of our great members, a pillar of the party, a consistent member of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, who was also a member of the board of trustees and the national vice-chairman (South-South) of our party.

“Also, we are here to solidarise with him, encourage him and tell him to remain focused. Because everything he’s been saying about the party is nothing but the truth,” Mr Ohuabunwa said.

The BOT chair expressed confidence and satisfaction with Mr Wike’s performance.

He added, “When he was offered this appointment, he wrote to the party at all levels, and the party unanimously accepted and asked him to go and represent the party. We want to boldly say that as a party and as the conscience of the party and also the compass of this party, we are very very proud of him. Proud of him as a person, proud of him in performance, proud of his capacity.”

The delegation further described Mr Orbih’s death as painful and shocking.

In his remarks, Mr Wike thanked the PDP BoT members for the visit, reiterating his assurance that he would remain in the party and work with others to rebuild it.

The visit came amid a rift between Mr Wike and the All Progressives Congress governors over the minister’s support for President Bola Tinubu and the potential impact of his Rainbow Coalition on the ruling party ahead of the 2027 election.