THE National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has stated that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) approved the appointment of Nyesom Wike as a minister in the administration of Bola Tinubu.
News Point Nigeria reports that Yilwatda made the assertion on Wednesday during a media chat in Abuja while responding to questions regarding Wike’s continued membership of the PDP despite serving as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory in an APC-led government.
Addressing the issue, the APC chairman said there was nothing unusual about the arrangement. “The question I was asked yesterday: ‘Why is Wike in PDP and working under our government?’ And I said it is not strange,” he said.
To support his argument, Yilwatda cited precedents from past administrations where opposition figures were appointed into government positions. He referenced Bala Mohammed, now governor of Bauchi State, who served as FCT minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan despite belonging to the ANPP at the time.
He also mentioned Adamu Aliero, former governor of Kebbi State, who, after leaving office and serving as a senator under the ANPP, was appointed FCT minister by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of the PDP.
Yilwatda argued that criticisms directed at President Tinubu over Wike’s appointment were therefore unfounded. “So, what’s wrong if President Tinubu is doing what two former presidents have done and nobody condemned what they did?” he queried.
He further noted that Wike was not the only opposition figure serving in the current administration, pointing to Bianca Ojukwu, a member of the APGA, who is serving as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. “People are just bothered about Wike. Why Wike only?” he asked.
The APC chairman added that Wike formally sought and received approval from the PDP before accepting the ministerial appointment. According to him, the former Rivers State governor wrote to the party’s National Working Committee in 2023 to seek permission to serve in the APC-led government.
“Most importantly, let me just put the facts across to you,” Yilwatda said. “Wike wrote the national working committee of PDP in 2023, before he took over the ministerial appointment, if he could take the appointment with APC.”
He maintained that the PDP granted the request, thereby authorising Wike’s participation in the Tinubu administration. “The national working committee of PDP approved that he should come and serve with us. So, he is serving with us with the approval of the national working committee of PDP, not APC,” he said.
Yilwatda concluded that Wike’s role in the government reflects a decision endorsed by the PDP itself. “So, it was PDP that approved that Wike should work with the APC. So, we are just obeying what the national working committee of PDP has done,” he added.
