2027: Wike Draws Fresh Battle Lines With APC Governors

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has rejected opposition from some All Progressives Congress governors to the proposed Rainbow Coalition, arguing that the group can support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election without preventing politicians from backing other parties in governorship and legislative elections.

Wike made the position known during an appearance on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout, where he argued that the coalition was focused mainly on the 2027 presidential election and would not require politicians to abandon their preferred parties for other contests.

The minister said the position of some APC governors was influenced by their political interests, particularly concerns over how the next National Assembly leadership would emerge.

He specifically alleged that Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, was interested in becoming Senate President after leaving office. Uzodimma has not publicly confirmed the ambition in the material provided.

The disagreement followed a September 15 position by APC governors that they would not participate in or support any alliance that could weaken the party, affect its candidates or undermine Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Uzodimma, who presented the governors’ communique, said the forum would support APC candidates across all levels of the 2027 elections.

Wike, however, argued that supporting Tinubu for President did not mean abandoning candidates of other political parties in governorship and National Assembly elections.

He referred to the 2023 elections, when members of the G5 group supported Tinubu for the presidency while their parties continued to contest other positions. According to him, a similar arrangement could occur in 2027, allowing politicians to support Tinubu while backing candidates from their preferred parties for other offices.

The FCT minister dismissed concerns that such voting patterns could confuse the electorate, saying Nigerian voters had previously supported candidates from different parties in the same election cycle.

Wike also alleged that some APC governors were worried that politicians who failed to secure the party’s tickets could move to other platforms, win their elections and later refuse to support candidates favoured by the governors for leadership positions in the National Assembly.

He linked the disagreement to the expected contest for the offices of Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives after the 2027 elections.

Wike further stated that he would not support Uzodimma for Senate President, although he said his opposition was not based on a personal dispute.

He also alleged that some governors were putting pressure on him because he remained a member of the Peoples Democratic Party while supporting Tinubu’s re-election.

The minister maintained that his support for Tinubu did not require the PDP to withdraw from other elections or abandon its candidates.

Wike also dismissed reports that Tinubu had agreed to concede nine states to the PDP or the Rainbow Coalition as part of a political arrangement. He challenged those making the claim to identify the states allegedly covered by the arrangement.

He said his main political objective was to campaign for Tinubu’s re-election based on the administration’s record, citing issues such as support for state police and what he described as the transfer of more resources and powers to sub-national governments.

Wike further disclosed that Tinubu was aware of the Rainbow Coalition and understood his position on the political arrangement. He said he did not expect the President to intervene by summoning the coalition’s members and APC governors to resolve their differences.

The minister insisted that the coalition was not intended to take over or weaken the APC, but to mobilise support for Tinubu across party lines in the presidential election.

Wike had previously accused Uzodimma and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of leading opposition to the coalition. The APC governors, however, have maintained that their position is aimed at protecting the party, its candidates and Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

Meanwhile, attempts to obtain a response from APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka were unsuccessful.

Sources within the ruling party, however, claimed that the APC National Working Committee was working to resolve the disagreement between the two sides before the 2027 elections.

According to the sources, the party was expected to begin further discussions after the return of APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda from vacation.