President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to intervene in the growing disagreement between Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development followed a fresh dispute over Wike’s political activities and his support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid while backing Peoples Democratic Party candidates in other electoral contests.
Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, said after the forum’s meeting in Abuja on Monday night that APC governors would not support any alliance or political arrangement capable of undermining Tinubu’s re-election or weakening the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Uzodimma stressed that the governors’ campaign commitment was exclusively to APC candidates at all levels.
Wike, however, defended the coalition, arguing that the arrangement was designed to support Tinubu’s presidential bid while strengthening the PDP in other electoral contests against the APC.
The FCT minister maintained that his support for Tinubu did not amount to an endorsement of APC candidates across the states, insisting that he remained free to support candidates of his choice.
Wike also criticised APC governors, accusing them of being politically weak and lacking the capacity to secure victory in their respective states.
The disagreement, however, is believed to extend beyond the immediate 2027 contest.
Two APC leaders disclosed that the dispute was also connected to political calculations surrounding the 2031 elections, the leadership of the 11th National Assembly and Wike’s mobilisation of support for PDP candidates seeking to challenge APC governors and their allies in various elective positions.
The growing tension has raised concerns among APC leaders and other stakeholders that, if not addressed, the disagreement could create divisions capable of affecting the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections.
A senior presidential aide said Tinubu would intervene to broker peace between Wike and the APC governors and ensure that their political activities did not work at cross-purposes.
The aide said the President, as leader of the APC, would seek to resolve the differences and maintain cooperation among those supporting his administration.
“You know, the President is the leader of the party and the father of the nation. The interesting aspect is that the governors and the minister are all working in the interest of the President and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“So, of course, President Tinubu will intervene in the face-off between the All Progressives Congress governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. There will be an intervention to broker a truce and resolve whatever differences exist between them, ensuring that all parties work together ahead of the coming election.
“The intervention is likely to take place abroad before the end of the week,” the aide said.
South-East APC backs Uzodimma
Meanwhile, APC leaders in the South-East have thrown their weight behind Governor Uzodimma and the Progressive Governors’ Forum, rejecting recent criticisms by Wike.
The position was contained in a joint statement signed by APC National Vice Chairman, South-East, Dr Ijeomah Arodiogbu, alongside the party chairmen in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states.
The leaders described Wike’s comments as “most unfortunate, reprehensible and completely unacceptable,” and urged the minister to withdraw his remarks and return to what they described as “party discipline, mutual respect and collective responsibility.”
The South-East APC described the Progressive Governors as elected, performance-driven leaders whose records and electoral achievements deserved respect.
The party leaders accused Wike of attempting to influence the political fortunes of serving APC governors ahead of 2027, stressing that a minister had no authority over elected governors.
They also rejected what they described as a “rainbow (chameleon) coalition” in the South-East, warning against any attempt to undermine APC structures in the region.
The leaders declared their support for APC governors and candidates at all levels ahead of the 2027 elections, stressing that the party remained bigger than any individual.
Ex-Rep warns Wike against dividing APC
Former House Minority Leader, Farouk Adamu-Aliyu, has also warned that Wike would not be allowed to fracture the APC as he allegedly did the PDP.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Adamu-Aliyu said the APC appreciated Wike’s role in weakening the PDP ahead of the 2023 presidential election but rejected any attempt by the minister to influence or divide the ruling party.
He said Wike’s support for Tinubu was appreciated but argued that such support did not give him the authority to dictate the affairs of the APC.
“We appreciate everything Wike has done for us. In fact, anybody who is willing to destroy his party for us, we will welcome him. However, we will not allow him to use our party to build his own party,” he said.
Adamu-Aliyu also criticised Wike’s public comments about Nigerians and APC leaders, saying the party needed to focus on rebuilding public confidence ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Despite the fact that we know there is a lot of hardship, we are trying to do better things that will make people believe in us. But just because you want to support the president, you insulted people anyhow and even insulted our leaders,” he said.
He noted that Wike was not an APC member and therefore could not dictate the affairs of the ruling party.
“Look, Wike is not a member of our party. So we will treat him as a member of the opposition,” he added.
Asked whether the APC regretted appointing Wike into Tinubu’s administration, Adamu-Aliyu said there was no regret but acknowledged that the minister’s actions could become a problem for the party.
He argued that political disagreements should be handled privately rather than through public exchanges, urging both sides to work together in the interest of the President and the party.
Efforts to reach Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, for his reaction to the latest developments were unsuccessful as calls and WhatsApp messages went unanswered as of the time of filing this report.
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