BREAKING: “Wike Wrote To The PDP National Working Committee And Got Approval To Serve – Yilwatda

According to a report by Nigerian Tribune on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, Nentawe Yilwatda, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, has stated that the party does not force individuals to join its ranks, stressing that membership is based entirely on personal choice.

He made this clarification during a media interaction where he addressed growing concerns about political defections and the movement of politicians from opposition parties into the ruling party.

Yilwatda explained that the recent wave of defections into the APC should not be interpreted as coercion or political manipulation.

According to him, individuals who decide to join the party do so voluntarily after assessing their political alignment and personal convictions.

He noted that political decisions of this nature are influenced by individual judgment and ideological preference, rather than pressure from party structures or leadership.

He further addressed concerns that the APC might be weakening opposition parties through the attraction of their members.

Yilwatda described such political movements as a normal feature of democratic practice, where politicians are free to change affiliations based on evolving circumstances.

He explained that in many democratic systems, political realignments occur regularly, especially as parties position themselves ahead of elections and respond to shifting political interests.

The APC chairman also emphasized that the party’s growth has been driven by its policies and direction, which he believes appeal to individuals across different political backgrounds.

He maintained that those who choose to align with the APC do so because they identify with its objectives and leadership style.

He suggested that political parties naturally expand when their ideas and programs resonate with a broader section of the political class and the electorate.

In addition to discussing defections, Yilwatda addressed the controversy surrounding the participation of Nyesom Wike in the current administration.

He explained that Wike’s involvement in the APC-led government was not the result of defection but was carried out with the approval of the Peoples Democratic Party.

According to him, Wike formally communicated with the party’s National Working Committee and received consent to serve in his ministerial role.

Yilwatda added that this arrangement reflects the complexities of modern political engagement, where collaboration across party lines can occur under specific conditions.

He stated that Wike’s position within the government should be understood within the context of that approval, rather than as an indication of party abandonment.

He emphasized that such decisions are governed by internal party procedures and mutual understanding among political stakeholders.

He said, “Wike wrote to the PDP National Working Committee and got approval to serve. So, he is working with that consent, not as someone taken away from his party.”