Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing the Abia North senatorial district, has intervened in the escalating political dispute between the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike. In a video statement shared on his official Facebook page on Friday, Kalu expressed strong opposition to the fielding of alternative candidates within states where APC governors are seeking re-election.
The conflict arose after APC governors rejected Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, a group that has repeatedly nominated candidates in various states. The governors argued that the coalition’s strategy of fielding rival candidates would undermine the party’s official flag bearers, including President Bola Tinubu’s bid for re-election in 2027.
Wike, however, defended the coalition, asserting that it is fully committed to supporting President Tinubu’s re-election. He accused some of the opposing governors of being "lazy" and failing to work adequately for the president during the 2023 elections.
Senator Kalu sided with the governors, stating that they have a valid grievance against having alternative candidates sponsored in their jurisdictions. "Some governors have a very good case, I cannot be a governor and you are sponsoring an alternative candidate in my state. I will not allow that to happen," Kalu said, adding that he would resist such a move if he were in a similar position.
"I appeal to the governors as Minister Nyesom Wike who use to be governor. We should not quarrel at this time of our campaign. Campaign is not done in Abuja so we should go back to the grassroot." — Senator Orji Uzor Kalu
Despite his firm stance on the issue of alternative candidates, Kalu appealed to both factions to de-escalate the tension and unite their efforts toward President Tinubu’s re-election. He emphasized that the party needs both the collective strength of the governors’ forum and the influence of Minister Wike to succeed.
"Both parties should pull their swords back. We need the governors’ forum very well and we also need Minister Wike very well," Kalu concluded, urging the political class to focus on grassroots mobilization rather than internal conflict.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
