Tonye Cole, former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers state, has implored Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), to make his political affiliation clear.
The co-founder of Sahara Group spoke on Friday in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.
Cole said Wike should “leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and come to the APC” so as to remove doubts about his political alignment.
Wike has been at the centre of a leadership crisis in the PDP since the 2023 elections.
Cole said Wike’s defection would help “strengthen democracy” and allow other parties to develop without interference.
According to him, once Wike’s stance becomes clear, the political environment in Rivers would also stabilise.
“Is he [Wike] APC or is he PDP? As far as we know today, he is PDP,” Cole said.
“We cannot continue confusing the electorate in Rivers state and confusing Nigerians because it is dangerous for democracy; that you are in one party, and you are controlling another party.
“The only person who is left to make a declaration as to where he stands in all of this is the minister, Nyesom Wike.
“Where I would implore him to act honourably is to come and join the APC. Leave the PDP, come and join the APC so that we all know now that we are standing in one bloc — no division, no confusion, nothing.
“Everybody is one bloc. This is where we are, so that we begin to play the dynamics of party politics in the state.
“Allow PDP to be, allow ADC to be, allow Labour Party to be, allow YPP to be. That’s what democracy is about.
“Let parties form their strength and come into the equation. Once that happens, then we know where we are.”
Wike, a former Rivers governor, has constantly maintained that he remains a member of the PDP while serving in the APC-controlled federal government.
