Wike is still valuable to APC, should not face embarrassment, Lawmaker

A prominent member of the All Progressives Congress and federal lawmaker, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has said that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is still a valuable member of the ruling party and should not face public shame.

Jibrin made this statement on Wednesday night during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today. He defended Wike against criticism from some APC governors regarding his ongoing membership in the Peoples Democratic Party and his support for President Bola Tinubu’s bid for a second term.

He pointed out that every member of the ruling party has gained from Wike’s efforts in helping President Bola Ahmed Tinubu become Nigeria’s President. “There is no APC member in Nigeria today that has not directly or indirectly benefited from the efforts of Wike, so long as delivering the President, also managing the government, also performing his work, there is nobody,” Jibrin stated.

The Kano lawmaker emphasized that Wike’s contributions to the APC-led government and Tinubu’s political goals should be acknowledged rather than criticized openly. “Wike is an asset to the APC. I don’t think Wike should be embarrassed at this moment with public statements,” he added.

He continued, “Wike is an asset to APC; he has sacrificed so much for the President and the APC.” Jibrin clarified that his support for Wike was not due to a personal connection but from his desire to keep efforts stable for Tinubu’s second term.

“And secondly, he made a huge sacrifice. As I talk to you, before only God I worship, I don’t know Wike, but he knows me from afar, and I know him from afar. If I see him, I know he is Wike, and if he sees me, he will know I’m Honourable Jibrin. I have met him just twice accidentally, so I’m not holding any brief for Wike, but I think anything that is going to touch on the stability of the journey towards delivering the President, I like to make my intervention,” he explained.

Jibrin also mentioned Wike’s political sacrifices. He highlighted Wike's role in the political changes that helped the APC in Rivers State and his backing for the ruling party in the FCT. “I believe that Wike has sacrificed; he handed over Rivers to APC, Wike had candidates [in the] FCT election but asked them to step down for APC. Wike came into this government as [part of the] government of national unity. In reality, we should be fair to him; he has done far more than that,” he said.

Jibrin argued that Wike’s choice to stay in the PDP while supporting the President should not be surprising. He noted that politicians from other parties are also helping Tinubu’s political ambitions. “There are people who are in other parties, who are working with us in the NDC, in the ADC. Some of them called me yesterday, saying, ‘Look at what they are saying about Wike,’” he said.

He urged APC governors with issues against Wike to talk to him privately instead of criticizing him publicly. “For the governors, they should take Wike as part of them. You call Wike the number 32 governor and Adeleke the number 33 governor of the APC; if there is a problem at the state level, the entire coalition that he is doing is for the President. If anybody at the subnational level feels it may work against him or his interest, they should discuss with Wike. But I do not think Wike should be embarrassed by statements,” he stated.

Jibrin’s comments came after some APC governors, including Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, criticized Wike for remaining in the PDP while rallying support for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election through the “Rainbow Coalition.” The lawmaker maintained that Wike’s political backing has helped the ruling party, noting the APC’s win in five of the six Area Councils in the recent FCT elections.