President Bola Tinubu has made it clear he’s open to having the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, join the All Progressives Congress (APC) if he decides to officially leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

During the commissioning of Arterial Road N16 in the Katampe area of Abuja, Tinubu praised Wike for his work as FCT Minister, despite still being a PDP member. He then jokingly referenced one of Wike’s most popular campaign catchphrases, saying, “Wike is not a member of my party—at least not yet. But if he ever makes that decision and joins the progressives, we’ll welcome him warmly. We’ll even enjoy singing ‘as e dey pain dem, e dey sweet us.’” His comments drew loud laughter from the audience, including Wike himself.

Although Wike has not officially left the PDP, his loyalty has long been questioned within the party. After falling out with the PDP leadership during the 2023 presidential primaries, Wike refused to support the party’s flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar, and instead backed Tinubu’s campaign—a move that caused serious internal rifts.

Tinubu rewarded Wike’s political support with the appointment as FCT Minister in August 2023, and since then, Wike hasn’t hidden where his loyalty lies.

In fact, he recently said he would personally lead Tinubu’s 2027 re-election efforts in Rivers State. “I am a major political asset. I will take charge of President Tinubu’s campaign in Rivers,” Wike boldly stated during a media chat.

His actions have continued to stir division within the PDP, with growing calls for his expulsion from the party. However, Wike still commands a strong base of support among some PDP members, making any move against him tricky for the party.

Earlier this week, Wike took another swipe at the PDP, echoing a demand by some stakeholders that the party must zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South to maintain a sense of fairness and balance. He also pointed out that, by the PDP’s constitution, only the National Secretary—currently Senator Samuel Anyanwu—is empowered to call a valid party meeting, hinting at disputes over how the party is being run.