President Bola Tinubu has expressed readiness to receive the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, into the All Progressives Congress (APC) if he chooses to formally defect from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He spoke at the commissioning of the Arterial Road N16 and other infrastructure projects in the Katampe District of Abuja.
Mr Tinubu praised Mr Wike’s dedication to public service and playfully referenced a popular chant from the minister’s past political rallies.
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“Nyesom Wike is not officially a member of our party—at least, not yet,” Tinubu remarked.
“But the moment he decides to join the progressives, we will gladly receive him. After all, we enjoy singing, ‘as e dey pain dem, e dey sweet us.’”
The comment elicited laughter from the crowd, including Mr Wike himself, highlighting the continued cordial rapport between the two politicians.
Mr Wike, a PDP stalwart, drew national attention during the 2023 elections when he endorsed Mr Tinubu’s presidential bid, despite remaining in the opposition party.
Following Mr Tinubu’s victory, Mr Wike accepted a ministerial role in the APC-led government and was sworn in as FCT Minister in August 2023—a move that further fractured the PDP and sparked intense internal debate.
His increasingly close alignment with Mr Tinubu’s administration has been the subject of widespread political analysis.
After losing the PDP’s 2022 presidential ticket, the former Rivers State governor withheld support from the party’s nominee, Atiku Abubakar, deepening tensions within the party ranks.
Since then, Wike has not only pledged allegiance to Mr Tinubu’s leadership but also vowed to lead his re-election campaign in Rivers State.
During a recent media chat on 3 June, he declared, “I am a valuable political asset. I’ll spearhead President Tinubu’s re-election drive in Rivers State.”
Mr Wike’s overtures towards the APC have triggered both praise and criticism, particularly from PDP figures like Bode George and Dele Momodu, who view his actions as undermining party unity.
The PDP has continued to grapple with internal divisions since its 2023 electoral loss, with Mr Wike emerging as a polarising yet influential player in its post-election dynamics.
On Monday, the FCT Minister once again dominated headlines after advocating for the PDP’s 2027 presidential ticket to be zoned to the South.
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Speaking on behalf of a group identified as the ‘Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP’, the 57-year-old emphasised the importance of fairness and regional balance in future leadership decisions.
The group’s statement also addressed internal governance issues within the party, insisting that only the National Secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu, possessed the legal authority to issue notices for national-level meetings.
