APC chieftains in FCT condemn Wike’s appointments, say minister killing party’s structure

Leaders of All Progressives Congress in the Federal Capital Territory on Monday protested the recent appointments by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, saying he is obsessed with engaging his People’s Democratic Party loyalists at the expense of their members.

The FCT party chieftains, who vented their frustration at a press conference in Abuja, called on President Bola Tinubu to call the former Rivers State governor to order before he destroys his political structure in the nation’s capital.

Wike has come under heavy fire over his choice of appointments since he assumed office.

His appointments of former Chairman of the PDP in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers, Chidi Amadi as Chief of Staff; erstwhile State Chairman of the PDP, Felix Obuah as Coordinator of Abuja Metropolitan Management Council; Michael Chinda as Senior Special Adviser on Land, Urban and Regional Planning and Barivure Fred, another senior aide on Environment and Waste Management among others have continued to irk APC members, especially indigenes of the FCT.

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Addressing the newsmen, a party chieftain in FCT, Abdulwahab Ekekhide, faulted the minister’s appointments since his coming to office, describing them as lopsided and an utter disregard for FCT members of the party who contributed to the president’s election victory.

He said, “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 their assumption of office, he has refused to sit with the party’s leadership, 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 that successive ministers import strangers who do not belong to any political ward or 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 council election in 2027 if the situation remains this way. These recent appointments have shown that 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.”

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The APC Youth Leader of the FCT, Isaac David, shared his sentiment.

David, an indigene of Abuja, also threatened that if Wike is allowed to continue denying party members their rights after working so hard for the president’s electoral victory; they may be forced to withdraw their support for the president.

“The minister’s PVC wasn’t registered in the FCT here. Same goes to 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 he plans to win the FCT in 2027,” he stated.