Wike’s Visit to Ganduje Sparks Defection Rumours

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The visit of the immediate past governor of Rivers State and minister-designate, Nyesom Wike, to the residence of the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, yesterday, in Abuja, has sparked another round of defection rumours.

Wike was the arrow-head of the Integrity Group — group of five Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors — that openly worked against the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar.

While former Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, his Benue State counterpart, Samuel Ortom, the former governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, worked for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi; the duo of Wike and the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, worked for then candidate of APC and now president, Bola Tinubu.

However, party stakeholders believed that the open romance of Wike with the ruling party, was only a matter of time before he announced his defection alongside his loyalist to the ruling APC.

Though details of the meeting Wike had with Ganduje remained unknown at the time of filing this report, it might not be unconnected with his rumoured defection to APC.

A chieftain of the party, who preferred anonymity, told THISDAY that while his defection to APC was not yet formal, but that making the ministerial list of the president was a strong pointer.

“Is he not a member yet? Someone that is a minister already,” the party chieftain said.

Asked when his planned defection would be made formal, the source said he couldn’t tell.