Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that it would welcome Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, should he decide to join the party—reaffirming what it calls a policy of voluntary political alignment, not coercion.
The APC National Chairman made the remarks while responding to questions about Wike’s speculated defection. He stressed that party membership is open to all Nigerians who choose to join freely.
“If he wants to join the APC, he is free to do so,” the chairman said. “We do not compel people to join. People willingly align with the APC.”
The statement adds fuel to ongoing speculation about Wike’s political future and his increasingly strained relationship with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he remains a prominent but often independent figure following the 2023 general elections.
Political analysts see the APC’s stance as part of a broader strategy to expand its influence by attracting high-profile politicians with strong regional backing, regardless of their original party affiliation.
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and a key political broker in southern Nigeria, has not publicly indicated any plan to switch parties. However, his recent political maneuvers and close cooperation with the APC-led federal government have intensified rumors of a possible realignment.
While the APC maintains an open-door policy, observers warn that Wike’s defection—if it happens—could dramatically reshape Nigeria’s political landscape, particularly further destabilizing the opposition PDP, which continues to struggle with internal divisions.