Former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, has criticized the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over his continued claim of membership in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite openly working with the APC.
Cole said Wike’s dual role was creating political confusion in Rivers State and across Nigeria. “Is he APC or is he PDP? As far as we know today, he is PDP.
We cannot continue confusing the electorate and confusing Nigerians because it is dangerous for democracy. You cannot be in one party while controlling another. It creates a one-party system that nobody clearly understands,” Cole argued.
Wike, who governed Rivers State from 2015 to 2023, played a controversial role during the 2023 elections when he campaigned for power to shift to the South, against his party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, from the North.
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After the election, he was appointed as Minister of the FCT by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and has since openly expressed support for Tinubu’s second-term bid.
Cole maintained that Wike’s current stance was at odds with his continued membership of the PDP, urging him to act honorably by formally joining the APC.
The comments come after the APC secured 20 out of 23 local government areas in Rivers State during the August 30 elections.
The PDP managed to win only three councils, including Obio/Akpor, Wike’s long-time political base.
