iVM Channels
The political differences between Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have intensified, with both sides advancing contrasting strategies ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike, speaking on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout, defended the proposed Rainbow Coalition, insisting that the initiative is primarily aimed at mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election and does not require politicians to abandon their parties or candidates in governorship and legislative contests.
His position, however, conflicts with that of the APC Governors Forum, which recently declared that its members would support only APC candidates and would not participate in any political arrangement capable of weakening the ruling party.
The disagreement has brought to the fore competing political calculations within the ruling party and among politicians seeking to influence the outcome of the 2027 elections.
Wike argued that supporting Tinubu for president while backing candidates from other political parties in state and National Assembly elections was not unprecedented. He cited the experience of the G5 governors during the 2023 elections, when members of the group supported Tinubu’s presidential bid while their respective parties continued to field candidates for other positions.
According to Wike, the same model could be adopted in 2027, allowing politicians to support Tinubu at the presidential level while retaining the freedom to support candidates of their choice in governorship and legislative elections.
The FCT minister also rejected concerns that such an arrangement would confuse voters, arguing that Nigerians had demonstrated in previous elections that they could vote for candidates from different political parties on the same ballot.
Beyond the presidential election, Wike alleged that the disagreement over the Rainbow Coalition was partly connected to the anticipated struggle for control of the National Assembly after the 2027 elections.
He specifically accused some APC governors of seeking to influence the emergence of senators and members of the House of Representatives who would subsequently determine the leadership of both chambers.
Wike singled out Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, alleging that he was positioning himself for the Senate presidency after leaving office.
Uzodimma’s current tenure as governor is constitutionally limited, and Wike alleged that his political calculations included contesting for the Senate and subsequently seeking the leadership of the upper chamber.
Wike said he would not support Uzodimma’s reported ambition to become Senate President.
Uzodimma has not, in the remarks reported here, publicly confirmed the ambition attributed to him by Wike.
The controversy followed a September 15 communique issued by the APC Governors Forum, in which the governors said they would neither participate in nor support any alliance or political arrangement that could undermine the APC, affect its candidates or weaken the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Uzodimma, who presented the communique, said the governors’ campaign commitment would remain focused exclusively on APC candidates.
The position places the governors at odds with Wike’s proposal for a broader political coalition that could cut across party lines at the presidential level.
Wike has previously accused Uzodimma and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of leading opposition to the coalition. The governors, however, have maintained that their position is intended to protect the APC and support Tinubu’s re-election.
Wike also dismissed reports that President Tinubu had agreed to concede nine states to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or the proposed Rainbow Coalition as part of a political arrangement ahead of 2027.
He challenged those making the claim to identify the states allegedly covered by the agreement, insisting that Nigerians should be presented with facts rather than unsubstantiated claims.
The minister said his immediate political objective was to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election and that he would campaign on what he considers the administration’s achievements.
Among the issues he said he would highlight are Tinubu’s reported support for state police and measures aimed at devolving resources and powers to sub-national governments.
Wike further disclosed that President Tinubu was aware of his activities and the concept behind the Rainbow Coalition.
He said he did not expect the President to intervene by summoning the coalition’s members and APC governors to resolve their differences, maintaining that Tinubu understood his political position.
Wike insisted that the coalition was not intended to destroy or take over the APC but to mobilise support for Tinubu across political boundaries.
The disagreement has raised concerns within the ruling party as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
Sources within the APC said the party’s National Working Committee was working to broker a resolution between the opposing camps.
The proposed effort is expected to intensify following the return of APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, from vacation.
According to a party source, the NWC intends to meet with President Tinubu and consider possible steps to resolve the disagreement.
For now, the central issue remains whether support for Tinubu’s presidential bid can coexist with political alliances that may see politicians back candidates outside the APC in governorship and legislative elections.
While Wike maintains that the two objectives can operate simultaneously, the APC Governors Forum has publicly taken the position that its support in 2027 will remain firmly behind APC candidates at all levels.