The All Progressives Congress in Imo State has described Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy, accusing him of trying to operate in two political parties at once through his Rainbow Coalition.
Imo APC Chairman Chief Austin Onyedebelu made the charge while speaking to journalists, hours after the party’s national leadership emerged from a retreat in Borno State and endorsed its governors’ opposition to the coalition. Onyedebelu said there is no provision in the Electoral Act allowing anyone to belong to two parties simultaneously.
“If Wike wants to work for Mr President, he should join his train. You cannot be at the end of two roads and say you are heading east,” he said. He alleged that Wike is using the Rainbow Coalition to revive the Peoples Democratic Party and pursue an alleged presidential ambition, and claimed the minister’s recent criticism of APC leaders, including Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma, stemmed from that agenda.
Onyedebelu urged Wike to formally join the APC.
Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on New Media and Public Communications, Lere Olayinka, dismissed the attack. “It is not every dog that is barking on the road that you throw stones at,” he said.
The PDP in Imo State rejected the APC’s characterisation and insisted that those seeking to restrict political choices pose the real danger to democracy. Party Publicity Secretary Hon. Lancelot Obiaku said democracy permits citizens to support candidates on the basis of credibility and acceptability.
“We, the PDP, are the true Democrats and have allowed the citizens to make informed decisions and will continue to support this trajectory. The political space is wide enough to accommodate all and sundry. If you decide to narrow down the space, you are the real enemy of democracy,” Obiaku stated.
He said the party’s stance mirrors that of its national leader, Wike, who has openly backed President Bola Tinubu’s re-election while the PDP fields candidates for other offices. Obiaku added that the party is actively campaigning for its candidates and regards the Rainbow Coalition as established.
Former Imo Deputy Governor and PDP senatorial candidate for Imo East, Eze Madumere, described Wike as an exceptional politician whose approach reflects democratic freedom. He noted that Wike has been consistent since the 2023 elections, when he and the G5 governors supported Tinubu, and has never hidden his position on the Rainbow Coalition.
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