The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, has said the ruling party is continuing to tolerate and accommodate the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, due to an existing political arrangement.
Yilwatda made the remarks on Tuesday in Abuja while addressing journalists after a meeting with APC stakeholders. The meeting was convened to address disputes arising from ongoing party congresses in the FCT.
He explained that although Wike remains a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the APC has maintained a working relationship with him based on a prior agreement between both parties.
According to Yilwatda, Wike has not officially defected to the APC. He said the minister is instead operating within the framework of an understanding that allows collaboration between the ruling party and the PDP.
The APC chairman stated that Wike had formally written to his party and obtained permission before accepting a role in the APC-led administration. He noted that this arrangement has enabled the minister to work with the ruling party despite party differences.
Yilwatda emphasized that the relationship is not unusual in the current political climate, but acknowledged that it has generated tension within the APC, particularly among long-standing members in the FCT.
He expressed concern over what he described as a growing conflict of interest between founding members of the APC in the FCT and newer entrants, particularly defectors from the PDP.
Some party loyalists, he said, have accused these defectors of attempting to take control of the party’s structure in the territory.
The chairman warned that such internal disagreements could weaken the party if not properly managed. He urged founding members not to abandon the APC out of frustration or pressure from competing interests.
Yilwatda called for unity among members, stressing that the party must remain cohesive as it prepares for future elections.
He also disclosed that more than N250 million has been earmarked for the conduct of ward and state congresses in the FCT. The funds, he said, are intended to ensure a smooth and credible process.
He appealed to party stakeholders to avoid actions or rhetoric that could deepen divisions along ethnic, tribal, or religious lines.
According to him, inclusiveness and fairness must guide the distribution of both elective and appointive positions within the party.
Yilwatda stressed the importance of balance in decision-making, noting that all groups within the party should feel represented and valued.
He said achieving harmony in leadership choices would help strengthen internal democracy and improve the APC’s chances in the 2027 general elections.
The chairman further urged members to embrace diversity and tolerance, adding that unity of purpose would be critical to the party’s success.
He maintained that the APC’s focus should remain on building a broad-based coalition that reflects the interests of all its members.
Yilwatda concluded by reiterating the need for cooperation among stakeholders, saying that the party’s future depends on its ability to manage internal differences while maintaining strategic political alliances.
