Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has publicly criticised governors from the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) over a proposed “Rainbow Coalition” aimed at supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re‑election.
In a recent statement, Wike described the APC governors as “politically lazy” and “behaving like 419ers”, arguing that they lack the strategy to work for Tinubu’s campaign. He said the coalition would work at cross‑purposes with the president’s 2027 re‑election agenda and that it would destabilise the states.
APC senior figure Hon Farouk Adamu Aliyu, former minority leader in the House of Representatives, responded on the morning show programmes of Arise TV and Channels TV. He rejected Wike’s remarks, saying that the governors are the party’s leaders in their respective states and that the APC would not allow a coalition that would let Tinubu win without APC representation in the National Assembly.
Wike’s comments were met with strong opposition from APC governors, including Senator Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo State and chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum. They said the Rainbow Coalition would “work at cross‑purposes” with the president’s agenda and that it would “leave Tinubu barren” by preventing him from forming National Assembly leadership.
Wike has maintained that he is working for Tinubu’s re‑election, but he has also said that, as a PDP member, he should not dictate the APC’s campaign strategy. He has called on the APC governors to “watch his tongue” and to avoid naming individual leaders in public criticism.
The clash highlights growing tensions between the ruling APC and opposition PDP ahead of the 2027 presidential election, as each party seeks to secure its own influence over the country’s political future.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>