Former Rivers State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tonye Cole, has called on Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike to openly declare his political allegiance, urging him to join the APC to end growing confusion among the Nigerian electorate.
Speaking during an appearance on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, Cole stressed that Wike’s current posture — serving in an APC-led federal administration while claiming to be a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — undermines political stability in Rivers State and poses a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
“Is he (Wike) APC or is he PDP? As far as we know today, he is PDP,” Cole said.
“We cannot continue confusing the electorate in Rivers State and confusing Nigerians because it is dangerous for democracy; that you are in one party, and you are controlling another party.”
Cole, who is also the co-founder of Sahara Group, argued that Wike’s open defection would help clarify his political stance, consolidate party politics in Rivers State, and allow other political parties to thrive without interference.
“The only person who is left to make a declaration as to where he stands in all of this is the minister, Nyesom Wike,” he stated.
“Where I would implore him to act honourably is to come and join the APC. Leave the PDP, come and join the APC so that we all know now that we are standing in one bloc — no division, no confusion, nothing.”
He further called for a level playing field for all political parties, saying:
“Allow PDP to be, allow African Democratic Congress (ADC) to be, allow Labour Party to be, allow Young Progressives Party (YPP) to be. That’s what democracy is about. Let parties form their strength and come into the equation. Once that happens, then we know where we are.”
Wike, a former Rivers State governor, has been at the centre of a deepening leadership crisis within the PDP since the 2023 general elections while serving in President Bola Tinubu’s APC-led government. He has repeatedly maintained that he remains a member of the PDP despite his ministerial role.
