- Viral photographs of the duo on social media has fuelled rumour of a possible defection
Minister designate and immediate past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has paid a congratulatory visit to the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Gnaduje, at his residence in Abuja.
Viral photographs of the duo posing with some of Wike’s loyalists and chieftains of Rivers chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party on social media has fuelled rumour of a possible defection to the ruling APC.
Hours after hosting the minister-designate and his delegation, Ganduje was spotted coming into the party secretariat at about 2.35 pm.
The development is coming barely one week after the president hosted Wike and former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai at the State House in Abuja.
The two ministerial nominees were screened by the Senate two weeks ago. While Wike successfully scaled through, El-Rufai’s confirmation was delayed leading to his eventual withdrawal.
It is, however, unclear whether Wike’s visit is connected to speculation that he would soon defect to the APC.
Wike is believed to have worked for the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the recently held presidential poll.
Wike’s successor, Governor Simi Fubara, had recently expressed the fear that Wike would soon dump the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, a platform that he used to administer Rivers State for eight years.
“While we are seeing signs that it’s like you want to go over to the other side with everybody wishing that, please don’t be too far from me because I know that the sharks, the tigers are really around looking for what to hurt. So, being around would continue to guide and put my head straight for the purpose of this state,” Fubara stated during a Thanksgiving service organised in his honour.
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