Tonye Cole has called on Wike to end political ambiguity and defect fully to APC.
NaijaOnPoint Nigeria reports that Former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, has urged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to make his political allegiance clear by formally joining the ruling APC.
Cole, who spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, argued that Wike’s continued identification with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while serving in President Bola Tinubu’s APC-led administration was creating unnecessary political confusion in Rivers State and across Nigeria.
“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.”
The Sahara Group co-founder added that a formal defection would not only clarify Wike’s political stance but also strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and stabilize Rivers politics.
“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,” Cole said.
He further emphasized the need for fair political competition, noting that all parties including PDP, Labour Party, ADC, and YPP should be allowed to thrive independently without interference.
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, has been at the center of the PDP leadership crisis since the 2023 general elections. Despite his appointment in Tinubu’s cabinet, he has repeatedly maintained that he remains a PDP member.