You can’t be in two parties — Cole pressures Wike to defect to APC
Former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to officially defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and join the APC to end the ongoing political confusion in Rivers State.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Cole said Wike’s simultaneous association with the PDP and his active role in the APC-led federal government creates a contradiction that undermines democratic values and misleads the electorate.
“You can’t be in two parties,” Cole said. “As far as we know today, he is PDP. But he is serving in an APC government, influencing decisions, and affecting the political dynamics of both parties. That’s a dangerous precedent for democracy.”
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and a key figure in the PDP, has remained a polarising figure within the party since the 2023 general election. Despite holding a strategic position in the APC-led federal cabinet, he has consistently maintained that he is still a member of the PDP.
Cole argued that Wike’s refusal to make a clear political declaration continues to fuel division and instability in the state. He urged Wike to act “honourably” by officially aligning with the APC.
“The only person who is left to make a declaration as to where he stands in all of this is the minister, Nyesom Wike,” he said. “Leave the PDP, come and join the APC, so that there’s no division, no confusion. Let everyone know we are operating from one bloc.”
According to Cole, a clear stance from Wike would allow all political parties in Rivers State — including the PDP, Labour Party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Young Progressives Party (YPP) — to build independently and compete fairly.
“Let parties form their strength and come into the equation. That’s what democracy is all about. Once that happens, then we know where we are,” he added.
