APC Chairmen Reject Wike’s Coalition, Demand Defection

Several state chairmen and officials of the All Progressives Congress have rejected the Rainbow Coalition associated with Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, urging him to formally join the ruling party if he intends to support President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

The development follows renewed disagreements within the APC over Wike’s political activities and his continued membership of the Peoples Democratic Party while serving in an APC-led Federal Government.

Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal recently urged Wike to choose between joining the APC and remaining with the coalition.

Lawal said APC governors wanted clarity on Wike’s political allegiance, arguing that he could not support the APC at the presidential level while backing candidates from other parties in governorship and legislative elections.

Several APC state chapters have expressed similar positions, although the responses have varied across the country.

In Imo State, APC Publicity Secretary Jones Onwuasoanya said Wike should formally identify with the ruling party if his support for Tinubu was genuine.

The Gombe State APC also called on the FCT minister to join the party, arguing that a separate coalition could create confusion among APC stakeholders.

In Ondo State, APC Secretary Alex Kalejaiye rejected an arrangement that would support Tinubu for president while backing candidates from other parties in other elections. He urged Wike to collapse his political structures into the APC.

The Jigawa State chapter, however, adopted a more welcoming position, saying Wike would be received if he decided to defect to the APC.

Similar differences have emerged in Benue, where members of competing APC factions expressed contrasting views on whether Wike should join the ruling party.

In Plateau State, APC Chairman Rufus Bature said the chapter did not recognise the Rainbow Coalition but maintained that Wike was free to join the party.

Other chapters, including those in Osun and Delta, said the matter should be addressed by the national leadership rather than individual state chapters.

Wike has rejected the argument that his coalition is an APC structure. Through his spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, he has maintained that the arrangement is focused on supporting Tinubu’s presidential re-election and does not prevent other political parties from fielding candidates in governorship and legislative elections.

Wike has also pointed to the political arrangement before the 2023 presidential election, when he and other members of the G5 supported Tinubu without formally leaving the PDP.

The disagreement reflects differing positions within Tinubu’s political camp over whether support for the President’s 2027 bid should be tied to support for APC candidates at all levels.

The issue is expected to remain part of the political discussions ahead of the 2027 general elections.