APC Chairman Sets Party Loyalty as Mandate for Future Appointments, Drawing Focus on Wike

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has issued a definitive directive linking future political appointments to active party membership, a move widely interpreted as a message to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Speaking in a widely circulated video dated January 21, 2026, Professor Yilwatda dismissed the notion of non-partisan technocrats in political roles. “There is nothing like a technocrat so long as you are a political appointee,” he stated, adding, “If you cannot work for our party, then get out.” He firmly declared that by 2027, individuals must be registered, card-carrying APC members to qualify for any political appointment—including ministerial positions, board chairmanships, or directorates.

This proclamation is seen as part of the party's drive to enforce discipline and consolidate its structure ahead of the next general elections. However, political observers immediately noted its apparent implications for FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, a chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who was appointed to his role by President Bola Tinubu without defecting to the APC.

Wike has consistently maintained his PDP membership while serving in the APC-led administration, a situation that has generated significant debate. Analysts suggest Yilwatda’s statement serves as a clear ultimatum for figures like Wike to fully integrate into the party or risk exclusion from the government in the next term.

Public reaction has been divided. Supporters of the directive applaud it as a necessary step to ensure appointees are accountable to the party platform. Critics, however, view it as a potential narrowing of governance talent and a pointed maneuver in the ongoing political dynamics, especially concerning Wike’s influence in Rivers State.

The announcement has undoubtedly intensified discussions about party affiliation, governance, and the evolving strategies within the APC as the 2027 elections approach.