The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Nentawe Yilwatda, has made it clear that the Minister of the Federal Capital territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike is free to join the ruling party.
Wike is currently serving as a minister in the Bola Tinubu-led APC administration and is also working for the party from all front.
Speaking in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Yilwatda said while no one would compel Wike to join the party, the former Rivers State governor would be welcomed should he decide to do so.
“If he wants to join the APC, he is free to do so. We don’t compel people to join APC. People willingly join APC,” he said.
He further dismissed claims that political appointments under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are tied to party membership, noting that several individuals who had previously criticised the president are currently serving in government.
“There’s nowhere you will see that there was an agreement with us that you must join APC before you serve in our government,” he said.
“People that insulted Mr President, he appointed them. They are in our government. He didn’t ask them to join the APC.”
Yilwatda also highlighted what he described as the president’s open leadership style, saying critics have been embraced rather than excluded.
“Those that insulted him, he welcomed them in broad daylight,” he added.
Wike, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, was said to be the architect of President Tinubu’s victory in 2023 and has vowed that his party, the PDP will not produce a presidential candidate in 2027.
