A fresh political disagreement has emerged between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and governors of the All Progressives Congress, APC, over his Rainbow Coalition and its role in the 2027 elections.
The dispute centres on Wike’s support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election while maintaining that his political coalition should remain free to support candidates outside the APC in governorship, senatorial and other elections.
The APC Progressive Governors’ Forum, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, said its members would not support any alliance or political arrangement capable of weakening the party or undermining the re-election of President Tinubu.
Uzodimma said the governors’ campaign commitment would remain with official APC candidates at all levels.
Wike, however, defended the Rainbow Coalition, arguing that supporting Tinubu for the presidency does not require him or members of the coalition to support every APC candidate in other contests.
Through his spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, Wike reiterated that his support for Tinubu was separate from his activities within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The minister also questioned why APC candidates won legislative seats in some states during the 2023 elections even where Tinubu did not secure the presidential vote, arguing that voters could similarly support Tinubu for president while choosing candidates from other parties in 2027.
The development has drawn a response from a faction of the PDP associated with Wike.
The party’s publicity secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, described Wike as a political force that should not be ignored and said the PDP remained committed to participating fully in the 2027 elections.
The faction also said the party would field candidates and mobilise voters despite Wike’s declared support for Tinubu at the presidential level.
The APC governors, meanwhile, have maintained that their position is focused on protecting the party’s candidates and electoral structure.
The disagreement adds another layer to the political realignments taking place ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly in Rivers State and other parts of the country where different political groups are negotiating alliances and candidate support.
Wike has continued to maintain that his Rainbow Coalition is intended to support Tinubu’s presidential bid while allowing participating politicians and parties to pursue their own interests in other electoral contests.
