ABUJA — Former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, has criticized the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over what he described as Wike’s contradictory political stance — operating within the APC-led federal government while still claiming membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme on Friday, Cole said Wike’s ambiguous political identity is unhealthy for Nigeria’s democracy.
“Is he 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. It is dangerous for democracy when you are in one party but controlling another. What we are seeing is the creation of a one-party state in disguise, and it is not clear to anybody,” he added.
Cole’s remarks come against the backdrop of Wike’s long-running clash with his party, the PDP, and his visible ties with President Bola Tinubu, under whom he now serves as FCT Minister.
During the 2023 elections, Wike openly opposed his party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, insisting that power should rotate to the South. His stance eventually aligned with the APC’s position, and after Tinubu’s victory, he was appointed minister.
Since then, Wike has repeatedly expressed support for Tinubu’s administration and second-term bid, further fueling questions about his true political loyalty.
Meanwhile, in the August 30 Rivers State local government elections, the APC secured 20 out of 23 councils, while the PDP won just three, including Obio/Akpor, Wike’s political base where he once served as council chairman before rising to governor from 2015 to 2023.
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