President Tinubu and Nyesom Wike

President Bola Tinubu has extended an open invitation to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike to officially join the All Progressives Congress (APC), praising his contributions to governance and hinting at a future political alliance.

Speaking during the commissioning of the Arterial Road N16 and other infrastructural projects in Abuja’s Katampe District, Tinubu acknowledged Wike’s impact in the capital city and playfully alluded to the former Rivers governor’s popular political slogan.

“We have somebody, Nyesom Wike; he is not a member of my party, not yet,” Tinubu remarked to applause and laughter from dignitaries and the audience. “But the day he changes his mind and registers with the progressives, we will welcome him. Because we will enjoy singing ‘as e dey pain dem, e dey sweet us.’”

Wike, a prominent member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has remained at the centre of Nigeria’s evolving political landscape. Though he stayed within the PDP after its defeat in the 2023 general elections, he surprised many by accepting a ministerial appointment in Tinubu’s APC-led administration and was sworn in as FCT Minister in August 2023.

His collaboration with the ruling party, while officially retaining PDP membership, has fuelled divisions within the opposition. Wike’s refusal to support PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar in 2023 and his public endorsement of Tinubu’s candidacy highlighted the internal fractures that have continued to haunt the party.

More recently, Wike has declared his intention to lead Tinubu’s re-election campaign in Rivers State in 2027, reinforcing speculation that his political transition to the APC may be a matter of time. “I am a key asset. I will lead President Tinubu’s re-election campaign in Rivers State,” he said during a June 3 media chat.

Wike’s growing alignment with the APC has drawn both criticism and admiration from political observers. PDP stalwarts such as Bode George and Dele Momodu have expressed concerns over Wike’s influence and the direction of the party under his shadow.

Meanwhile, the minister continues to shape national discourse from within the PDP. At a consultative meeting this week under the banner of the “Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP, ”Wike called for the zoning of the 2027 presidential ticket to the South. He also emphasised the need for procedural integrity in party operations, asserting that only National Secretary Senator Sam Anyanwu had the authority to convene national meetings.

As Nigeria’s 2027 elections slowly begin to take shape, Wike remains a polarising figure whose next political move could significantly impact both ruling and opposition dynamics.