Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has hit back at governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress over their opposition to his Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike described the APC governors as “politically lazy” after the governors, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, declared that they would not support any political alliance capable of weakening the APC or affecting the party’s candidates at any level.
The former Rivers State governor made his position known during a television interview, insisting that his support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re election bid should not be confused with support for APC candidates in other elections...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
Wike maintained that the Rainbow Coalition is a cross party platform focused on mobilising support for Tinubu. He said he never promised that the Peoples Democratic Party would stop fielding candidates for governorship, National Assembly and state assembly elections.
According to him, political parties and their supporters can back a presidential candidate while maintaining separate interests in other electoral contests.
Wike also questioned the argument that supporting Tinubu must automatically translate into supporting every APC candidate. He referenced the 2023 elections, when voters supported different political parties in presidential and legislative contests held on the same day.
The minister further argued that the APC governors should not use the President as a justification for what he described as their local political concerns.
The disagreement followed a declaration by the APC governors that their campaign efforts would focus exclusively on candidates officially sponsored by the party. Uzodimma said the governors would not participate in arrangements that could create divided loyalties or undermine APC candidates.
Wike, however, maintained that the Rainbow Coalition has nothing to do with the internal structure of the APC and is instead an avenue for politicians from different parties who want to support Tinubu at the presidential level.
The clash has added another dimension to the political realignments taking shape ahead of the 2027 elections, with Wike continuing to promote his cross party mobilisation strategy while APC governors insist on protecting the party’s candidates and structures.
The disagreement is expected to remain a major talking point as political parties, governors and influential politicians intensify preparations for the 2027 elections.
