In the Federal Capital Territory, the All Progressive Congress leaders expressed strong disapproval on Monday regarding the recent appointments made by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
They criticized the minister for favoring his Peoples Democratic Party allies, neglecting APC members who had supported the party’s success.
During a press conference at the Nigerian Union of Journalists’ Abuja secretariat, APC officials urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene with Wike, accusing him of undermining the party’s framework in the capital.
Wike’s selection of appointees has been a contentious issue. His choices include Chidi Amadi, a former PDP Chairman from Rivers, as Chief of Staff, and Felix Obuah, another PDP figure, as the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council Coordinator. These appointments have particularly upset APC members in the FCT.
APC stalwart, Abdulwahab Ekekhide, speaking to reporters, criticized the minister’s “lopsided” appointments, which he claimed showed blatant disregard for local APC contributors to the President’s election win.
Ekekhide stated, “We want to let President Bola Tinubu know that Nyesom Wike is killing the political structure of the APC in FCT due to his lack of regard for the party and its leadership. Since assumption of office, he has refused to sit with the leadership of the party, even though the party has written him a series of letters to grant the party audience, all to no avail. We say this is unacceptable.
“You will all recall some months back when Wike was quoted as saying ‘Nobody can take over or kill my political structure in Rivers State.’ So, why is he now killing the President’s political structure in the FCT? The reason the APC always loses elections in the FCT is because successive ministers import strangers who do not belong to any political ward, polling unit or have voting rights as appointees. But when it is time for general elections, they will pack their baggage and travel to their various states leaving the FCT dry.
“We call on Mr. President to caution the minister. Let him start empowering the party or else, the APC will struggle to get two percent and the President may lose the next area councils election in 2027 if the situation remains this way. These recent appointments have shown that Hon. Wike wants to finally kill and bury the party. His agenda we don’t know but we will resist any further attempts to ridicule the party.”
The APC Youth Leader, Isaac David, also voiced concerns, threatening that the party might retract its support for the President if the minister continues to overlook the rights of party members.
“The minister’s PVC wasn’t registered in the FCT here. The same goes for the PDP loyalists and supporters he is bringing into Abuja for appointments. If they are ignoring us, the indigenes and the FCT APC members, we will see who will vote him back in 2027.
“We will withdraw our support from Mr President. Let us see if he plans to win the FCT in 2027,” David warned.