APC responds to Atiku’s camp allegations of Presidency using Wike to destabilise PDP

APC responds to Atiku’s camp allegations of Presidency using Wike to destabilise PDP

The camp of the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2023 presidential elections, Atiku Abubakar, has leveled serious allegations against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidency, accusing them of using the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as a pawn to destabilise and diminish the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

These claims were made by Paul Ibe, Atiku’s media aide, during a segment of Politics Today on Channels Television.

Ibe argued that the APC had strategically turned the PDP into a battlefield for its internal strife, with Nyesom Wike, the former governor of Rivers State, being a central figure in this effort.

He referred to Wike as the APC’s “Man Friday,” a term that implies Wike is being manipulated as a loyalist to advance the ruling party’s agenda.

Ibe emphasised, “I firmly believe there are still ongoing efforts to pull the PDP back from the edge. We are all aware of the party’s internal turmoil. Let’s not deceive ourselves into thinking the PDP is the benchmark for progress.” He continued, “It’s evident to Nigerians that the APC has turned the PDP into a playground. The ruling party is not just targeting the PDP; it’s also trying to destabilize other opposition groups, including the Labour Party, by exploiting Wike. His mission is clear—he has one task: to dismantle the PDP.”

In contrast, the APC’s National Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, swiftly dismissed these accusations in an exclusive interview with PUNCH Online.

Ibrahim questioned the logic of using Wike to undermine a party already grappling with its own internal issues.

He pointed out that as the FCT minister, Wike is not a member of the APC, implying that it would be counterproductive for the ruling party to employ someone still affiliated with the PDP to weaken the opposition.

He said, “Wike is not a card-carrying member of the APC and he has not come out to say he is dancing to the music of the APC. He has not denied the fact that he is a card-carrying member of the PDP.

“So why are they trying to ascribe to Wike what he has not ascribed to himself? Wike has not said that he is being teleguided or being used by the APC to do the bidding of the party. Are they afraid of calling a spade a spade by confronting him directly and asking him the questions they are asking other people?

“These questions should be directed at Wike. The PDP is running away from the challenge before it. The APC has got more on its hands than to subjugate Wike to be doing its bidding. Wike is a man of himself. He was a governor, lawyer and now minister.

“Even if there is going to be an alliance, it is going to be one of willing parties. Let them not run away from the fact that the problem is internal. They are the ones that are having problems within their party. They are throwing the ball at the wrong court.”