Ganduje confirms APC plotting, and ‘having Wike improves our chances’
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Nyesom Wike is being factored into calculations by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 election cycle, Abdullahi Ganduje has disclosed, in justifying why the former Rivers Governor visited him in Abuja on Tuesday.
The APC National Chairman said Wike is ready to cooperate with the party and enthused the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member and G5 arrowhead will further boost the chances of the APC in 2027.
Bola Tinubu on Thursday appointed Wike Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), his pay back for helping the President win Rivers in the presidential election.
Ganduje disclosed the strategy with Wike when he was visited at the APC national secretariat in Abuja by former Plateau Governor and Director General of the dissolved APC Presidential Campaign Council, Simon Lalong.
But he refuted reports that Wike’s likely defection to the APC was discussed at their meeting.
“You know Wike is a honourable Minister designate so he came, we discussed, because I was looking for him to congratulate him for that. He also came to congratulate me,” Ganduje said.
“We discussed that when he becomes Minister fully, he will work very hard in order to move the ministry he is given forward and he is ready to cooperate. But we didn’t discuss the issue of his coming to APC or not coming to APC. That issue will arise later.”
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Having Wike improves APC chances, Gandju says
Ganduje reiterated Wike’s presence in the APC will improve its chances before and in 2027, and the party is working on a blueprint that will grow its followership across the country and even persuade other political parties to merge with the APC, according to reporting by The PUNCH.
In his view, the inclusion of Wike and other notable members from the opposition signifies the “spirit of national unity” President Bola Tinubu preaches.
“Having Wike will certainly improve the chances of this our party, especially in 2027, and not only that we are coming out with a new blueprint to increase the followership of the party and this will include all strata of officials; those who are in APC and those who are in other political parties,” Ganduje explained.
“I assure you very soon some of the political parties will even merge with the APC. We are doing that underground.
“But the spirit of national unity does not mean the spirit of one party in Nigeria. The spirit of national unity means the spirit of national competence and spirit of national capacity.”
Lalong disclosed he only came around to congratulate Ganduje on his election as APC National Chairman, whom he said got the job because he is an experienced politician.
He added: “At the time we finished the national caucus and the NEC meeting, I was not around. Now that I am around, I need to formally come and congratulate him (Ganduje) and see what efforts we can make to keep him moving in running the party.
“Ganduje was a Governor. As a matter of fact, when we look at his antecedents, we always say he is the longest-experienced politician that we have within us. Because he is somebody who was very long in the civil service, he became Permanent Secretary, Commissioner, longest serving Deputy Governor, and became Governor.
“With this kind of experience, what else do you need in party matters? So we have confidence in him as he is now here and it is not an issue of one man, any time he has an opportunity, he does a lot consultation and we are always available.
“His colleagues who were Governors with him are always available for this kind of work. That is why we are rallying around to give him every help so that the party can also succeed.”