Tensions within Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress are intensifying ahead of the 2027 general elections as disagreements between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and some APC governors continue to widen.
The dispute centres largely on Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, a cross-party political platform he has been promoting in support of President Bola Tinubu’s bid for another term in office.
While Wike has maintained that the coalition is designed to support Tinubu’s re-election and is separate from the APC, several APC governors have expressed concerns that the arrangement could undermine the party’s candidates in the 2027 elections.
The Progressive Governors’ Forum, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, previously declared that APC governors would not support any alliance or political arrangement capable of weakening the party or adversely affecting its candidates.
Uzodimma said the governors’ campaign activities would remain focused on official APC candidates at all levels.
The disagreement has since become more personal, with Wike accusing some APC governors of working against his political activities and naming Uzodimma, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and another governor among those opposed to his coalition. Premium Times reported that Wike linked the governors’ opposition partly to political calculations surrounding future leadership positions in the National Assembly.
The widening disagreement has also attracted different reactions within the APC.
While some party figures have backed the governors’ position, APC chieftain and federal lawmaker Abdulmumin Jibrin recently described Wike as an asset to the ruling party and called for efforts to resolve the disagreement rather than allowing the dispute to escalate publicly.
Meanwhile, reports cited by PUNCH indicate that some APC leaders and governors who are unhappy with the current political situation are considering other options ahead of 2027. Some reports have specifically mentioned possible contacts with opposition figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. However, these reports are based on sources and should not be treated as confirmation that any particular governor has decided to leave the APC or support another presidential candidate.
Wike has also insisted that his support for Tinubu should not be interpreted as support for APC candidates in every state. BusinessDay reported that the minister said his backing for Tinubu was distinct from contests for governorship and legislative positions.
The development has placed the relationship between Wike, the APC governors and the broader Tinubu political camp under increasing scrutiny as the 2027 elections approach.
For now, the dispute remains centred on competing political interests, the role of the Rainbow Coalition and control of electoral structures and candidates ahead of the next general election. Whether the disagreements result in further defections or political realignments remains to be seen.
