The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has claimed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) approved the participation of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Yilwatda made the statement during a media chat, insisting that Wike’s role in the APC-led federal government was not the result of political defection or party poaching, but followed formal approval from the PDP’s leadership.
According to him, Wike had written to the PDP National Working Committee seeking permission to serve in the current administration, and the opposition party allegedly granted the request.
“He wrote to the PDP National Working Committee to seek approval to serve, and the PDP approved that he should come and work with us,” Yilwatda said. “So he is serving with that approval, not as someone taken away from his party.”
The APC chairman argued that it was not unusual for members of opposition parties to serve in government, adding that past administrations had also appointed individuals based on competence, regardless of political affiliation.
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He also dismissed claims that the ruling party was weakening the opposition, stressing that political participation in Nigeria is voluntary and based on individual choice.
Yilwatda further noted that supporting President Tinubu does not require formal membership of the APC, arguing that electoral support amounts to endorsement.
He added that the party is strengthening its internal structures through digitised membership systems, improved transparency in primaries, and closer collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission.
According to him, the APC is also investing in training and ideological development to build stronger political leadership and governance capacity ahead of future elections.