2027: Wike Draws Fresh Battle Lines With APC Govs

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has renewed his criticism of some All Progressives Congress governors over the proposed Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Wike, who remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party while serving in the APC-led Federal Government, said the coalition was primarily designed to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.

Speaking on a television programme on Monday, the minister argued that supporting Tinubu for president should not prevent politicians from backing candidates of other parties in governorship and legislative elections.

His position has placed him at odds with the APC Governors’ Forum, which has rejected political arrangements that could weaken the party or undermine its candidates in the 2027 elections.

The forum, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, recently declared that APC governors would support only candidates contesting under the party’s platform.

Wike, however, maintained that there was nothing unusual about politicians supporting a presidential candidate from one party while backing candidates from another party at other levels.

He cited the experience of the G5 governors during the 2023 elections, when the group supported Tinubu for president while retaining their respective party affiliations and candidates for other elections.

The FCT minister also alleged that some APC governors were opposing the Rainbow Coalition because of concerns over the composition of the next National Assembly and the emergence of its presiding officers.

He specifically mentioned Uzodimma and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq among those opposed to the coalition.

Wike alleged that some governors wanted to influence the emergence of senators and members of the House of Representatives who would eventually determine the leadership of the National Assembly.

He also alleged that Uzodimma was interested in becoming Senate President after leaving office as Imo governor, a claim concerning Uzodimma’s political ambition that has been presented by Wike.

The dispute has added another layer to the political realignments ahead of 2027, with Wike seeking to mobilise support for Tinubu across party lines while remaining politically active within the PDP.

The APC governors, meanwhile, have maintained that their priority is protecting the party’s structure and candidates at all levels.

Wike also dismissed reports that Tinubu had agreed to concede nine states to the PDP or the Rainbow Coalition, challenging those making the claim to identify the states allegedly covered by such an arrangement.

He said his immediate political objective was to support Tinubu’s re-election and campaign on the administration’s policies and achievements.

The disagreement between Wike and the APC governors is expected to remain a significant feature of the political realignments as parties and political actors prepare for the 2027 elections.