The All Progressives Congress (APC) has publicly defended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, insisting he has the constitutional right to support and campaign for candidates from any political party.
Speaking during an interview yester, APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka dismissed concerns over Wike’s backing of APC candidates in the February 21 FCT Area Council elections.
According to Morka, Wike — as a Nigerian citizen — enjoys full constitutional freedom to support any candidate of his choosing, regardless of political affiliation. He emphasised that such actions fall within the rights guaranteed by the country’s constitution.
The comments follow heightened scrutiny of Wike’s influence in the elections, which saw the APC secure victory in five out of six area councils.
Controversy intensified after two chairmanship candidates from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — Julius Adamu, in Bwari and Zadna Ɗantani, in the Abuja Municipal Area Council — withdrew from the race and endorsed their APC opponents after reported interventions by Wike.
The PDP’s National Working Committee strongly condemned the withdrawals, describing them as anti-democratic and alleging they were induced without party approval, effectively creating what it called a “forced consensus”.
Wike’s open support for APC candidates has reignited debate over party loyalty, political cross-alignment and the limits of allegiance in Nigeria’s multi-party system. However, Morka maintained that the minister’s actions reflect personal constitutional rights rather than any coordinated APC strategy.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu also praised Wike’s role in the APC’s electoral successes in the FCT polls and recent by-elections in Rivers State.
