Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed dissatisfaction with recent appointments made by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, alleging favoritism towards his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyalists.
They warn that such actions could lead to significant repercussions for the APC’s political standing in the region.
During a media gathering at the Nigerian Union of Journalists secretariat in Abuja, APC chieftains voiced their concerns over what they perceive as Wike’s disregard for APC members in the FCT. Abdulwahab Ekekhide, an APC figure in the FCT, criticized the Minister’s appointments, describing them as biased and detrimental to the interests of APC supporters who contributed to President Bola Tinubu’s electoral victory.
Ekekhide emphasized, “We want to let Chief Tinubu know that Nyesom Wike is jeopardizing the APC’s political structure in the FCT by neglecting our party and its leadership. Since assuming office, he has failed to engage with the party’s leadership, despite repeated attempts by the party to seek an audience with him. This is unacceptable.”
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The APC chieftain highlighted Wike’s previous assertion regarding the sanctity of his political structure in Rivers State, questioning why he is now undermining the President’s political base in the FCT. Ekekhide argued that such actions could lead to electoral losses for the APC, citing the tendency of successive ministers to appoint non-residents unfamiliar with the local political landscape.
Isaac David, the APC Youth Leader in the FCT, echoed these sentiments, warning of potential consequences if Wike continues to overlook the rights of party members who contributed to Tinubu’s victory. David emphasized the importance of ensuring that appointments prioritize indigenous APC members over PDP loyalists brought in from outside the region.
David remarked, “If the Minister and his PDP loyalists continue to ignore us, the indigenes and APC members in the FCT, we will reconsider our support for Chief Tinubu. Let us see if he can secure victory in the FCT in 2027.”
The youth leader emphasized that neither Wike nor his PDP supporters had their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) registered in the FCT, raising concerns about their legitimacy in influencing local politics.
In light of these grievances, APC leaders in the FCT called on Chief Tinubu to intervene and address the situation promptly to prevent further erosion of the party’s support base. They warned that failure to rectify the issue could result in significant electoral setbacks for the APC in future elections.
