Minister of Works David Umahi has dismissed reports of a growing disagreement between him and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, insisting that their political relationship remains cordial despite speculation about divisions within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Umahi made the clarification on Wednesday during a press conference in Abuja, where he described Wike as a progressive politician and maintained that both men remained part of the same political family.
“We need Wike as Wike needs us. So, it’s one family,” the minister said, dismissing suggestions that political differences had damaged their relationship.
His comments come amid growing debate over Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, a political arrangement aimed at mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027. The initiative has attracted scrutiny from some APC stakeholders concerned about its implications for the party’s structure and candidates in the forthcoming elections.
Although Wike belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he serves in Tinubu’s APC-led administration and has openly backed the president’s second-term ambition.
Umahi argued that reports of a rift between him and Wike had been exaggerated by political opponents, urging political actors to prioritise national development rather than allow disagreements to create divisions.
The minister’s remarks signal an attempt to downplay tensions surrounding political alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections, when competing interests within and outside the ruling party are expected to shape electoral strategies.
