A former South-East spokesperson to President Bola Tinubu, Denge Josef Onoh, has urged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to formally join the All Progressives Congress (APC) if he wants to remain involved in the party’s political activities.
Onoh, who also chairs the Forum of Former Members of the Enugu State House of Assembly, expressed concern over the political alliance reportedly associated with Wike ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the emerging political arrangement could create divisions within the APC and undermine the party’s structures if it is not properly managed.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Onoh questioned the extent of the alliance’s political influence outside Rivers State. He argued that Wike’s strongest political base remains in Rivers and cautioned against assuming that the same political strategy could easily be replicated across other parts of the country.
Onoh also rejected comparisons between Wike’s current political alignment and the G5 governors’ group that emerged ahead of the 2023 elections.
He noted that the G5 consisted of five serving governors who had direct control over political structures in their respective states and operated with a more defined regional agenda.
The former presidential spokesman argued that the present arrangement lacks a similar level of organisational strength, particularly because several individuals linked to it are former political office holders without comparable grassroots structures.
Onoh further alleged that Wike’s disagreements with some APC governors, including Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, could generate internal tensions and affect the party’s cohesion ahead of the 2027 polls.
He also criticised any political strategy that would encourage voters to support the APC presidential candidate while voting for candidates from other parties in legislative elections.
According to him, such a voting pattern could reduce the number of APC lawmakers elected into the National Assembly and make it harder for the party to secure a strong legislative majority.
Onoh cited the voting pattern witnessed during the 2023 elections in Enugu State as an indication of how split-ticket voting could affect a political party’s performance.
He therefore called on APC leaders and members to oppose the development of what he described as a parallel political structure within the ruling party.
Onoh maintained that Wike should clearly define his political position if he intends to continue playing a role in the affairs of the APC.
He argued that Wike could not remain affiliated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while simultaneously attempting to influence the direction of the APC without becoming a formal member of the ruling party.
The former lawmaker consequently challenged Wike to register with the APC at his ward if he wishes to participate fully in the party’s activities.
Onoh added that the APC already possesses the necessary national structures and grassroots network to campaign for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election without depending on political arrangements that could create divisions within the party.
