Tinubu Moves To Quell Wike, APC Governors’ Showdown Ahead Of 2027
President Bola Tinubu is set to intervene in the escalating political disagreement between Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Tinubu, who is currently on a three-week working holiday in Europe, is expected to return to Nigeria this weekend, with sources indicating that he may meet members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) as early as next week.
There are also reports that Wike, who is currently in Spain, could meet the president in France before Tinubu returns to Nigeria.
The development follows the decision by APC governors to reject any political alliance or arrangement they believe could weaken the party or undermine its candidates in the 2027 elections.
The governors, led by PGF chairman and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, declared that they would support only candidates officially sponsored by the APC.
Uzodimma said the governors would neither participate in nor endorse any alliance capable of weakening the ruling party or adversely affecting its candidates.
The declaration has been linked to Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, a cross-party political platform that the FCT minister has said is aimed at mobilising support for Tinubu’s re-election.
Wike has insisted that backing Tinubu does not mean abandoning the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), maintaining that he remains free to support candidates of his choice in other elections.
He has also criticised the APC governors’ opposition to the coalition, describing them as “politically lazy” and arguing that supporting a presidential candidate should not stop political parties from fielding candidates for governorship and legislative positions.
The disagreement has consequently created fresh tension within Tinubu’s political camp, particularly over the activities of the Rainbow Coalition in APC-controlled states.
Wike, however, maintains that the coalition is not an APC structure but a platform bringing together politicians from different parties in support of Tinubu’s second-term bid.
A source familiar with the matter said Tinubu was expected to listen to the concerns of the governors, Wike and other stakeholders as efforts to resolve the dispute gather momentum.
There was no official confirmation of the proposed meeting as of press time.
Meanwhile, a Presidency source said Tinubu was already aware of alleged moves by some APC governors to undermine the party in their respective states.
The source added that the president had spoken with Uzodimma over alleged involvement of some governors in anti-party activities and expressed concern that such actions could weaken the APC ahead of 2027.
Uzodimma Aide Fires Back At Wike
The political confrontation also spilled into another exchange after Uzodimma’s media aide warned Wike against making disparaging comments about the Imo governor.
Nwamkpa, the governor’s Special Assistant on Print Media, said Uzodimma was different from former Rivers governors Rotimi Amaechi and Celestine Omehia, as well as incumbent Governor Siminalayi Fubara, whom Wike has previously criticised.
He urged the FCT minister to exercise caution in his public comments about Uzodimma.
APC Chairman May Cut Short Vacation
Amid the growing tension, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda may reportedly cut short his overseas vacation and return to Nigeria to help resolve the dispute.
Yilwatda commenced a two-week vacation last Wednesday after what his media aide described as a demanding first year in office.
However, the disagreement between Wike and the APC governors erupted barely a week into his break.
Party sources said the APC National Working Committee (NWC) was concerned about the dispute and could intervene, even as the party weighs how best to manage the growing disagreement.
One source said Yilwatda could return before the weekend to mobilise members of the NWC towards finding a solution.
Okechukwu Backs Tinubu-Wike Relationship
APC founding member Osita Okechukwu, meanwhile, cautioned Tinubu against yielding to demands that he distance himself from Wike’s coalition.
Okechukwu argued that there was nothing inherently wrong with Tinubu maintaining his political relationship with Wike, particularly given the former Rivers governor’s role in the 2023 presidential election.
He urged the president to maintain a broad political coalition ahead of 2027 rather than allow internal disagreements to narrow his political support base.
Okechukwu also advised APC governors to strengthen their relationship with voters in their respective states instead of seeking to influence Tinubu’s relationship with political allies.
‘Stop Talking, Go And Work’
A spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Ima Niboro, urged the politicians involved in the dispute to tone down their public exchanges and concentrate on grassroots mobilisation.
Speaking on Arise Television’s The Morning Show, Niboro told political actors to take their campaigns to voters instead of engaging in prolonged verbal exchanges.
He urged politicians to engage communities, marketplaces and other grassroots constituencies in preparation for the 2027 elections.
Rivers APC Backs Wike Coalition
The Rivers State chapter of the APC has rejected calls to withdraw from the Rainbow Coalition.
The state party said it would continue working with Wike and other political parties, groups and individuals involved in the alliance to support Tinubu and other candidates in 2027.
It also urged APC governors to build wider alliances and engage other groups in order to strengthen voter mobilisation.
The Rivers APC argued that political conditions differ from one state to another and that strategies used in one part of the country should not automatically be imposed on others.
The PDP also defended Wike’s political activities, arguing that the former Rivers governor remained a significant political actor with the constitutional right to decide whom he supports.
Analysts Warn Of Wider Political Fallout
Political scientists have warned that the dispute could have wider implications for the 2027 elections.
Professor Ezekiel Major Adeyi of the University of Jos said Wike’s political activities had introduced another dimension into the emerging electoral calculations, arguing that the former Rivers governor was operating outside conventional party structures while supporting Tinubu’s re-election.
Professor Tukur Muhammad Baba, however, described the confrontation as unhealthy for the polity and urged Tinubu to address the disagreement.
Professor Felix Asogwa of Enugu State University of Science and Technology said the dispute reflected deeper disagreements over party loyalty and political interests, warning that continued tensions could trigger further crises.
Similarly, Professor Hassan Saliu, immediate past president of the Nigeria Political Scientists Association, said the governors’ rejection of the Rainbow Coalition marked a significant escalation.
He said the APC now faced the challenge of balancing party cohesion with political inclusion ahead of 2027.
Associate Professor Anthony Egobueze of Rivers State University said the coalition could alter the influence of other political parties and groups, particularly in contests for offices beyond the presidency.
With the dispute now involving Wike, the APC governors, the party leadership and competing political interests, pressure is mounting on Tinubu to manage the competing demands within his wider political camp ahead of the 2027 elections.
Tinubu, who is currently on a three-week working holiday in Europe, is expected to return to Nigeria this weekend, with sources indicating that he may meet members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) as early as next week.
There are also reports that Wike, who is currently in Spain, could meet the president in France before Tinubu returns to Nigeria.
The development follows the decision by APC governors to reject any political alliance or arrangement they believe could weaken the party or undermine its candidates in the 2027 elections.
The governors, led by PGF chairman and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, declared that they would support only candidates officially sponsored by the APC.
Uzodimma said the governors would neither participate in nor endorse any alliance capable of weakening the ruling party or adversely affecting its candidates.
The declaration has been linked to Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, a cross-party political platform that the FCT minister has said is aimed at mobilising support for Tinubu’s re-election.
Wike has insisted that backing Tinubu does not mean abandoning the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), maintaining that he remains free to support candidates of his choice in other elections.
He has also criticised the APC governors’ opposition to the coalition, describing them as “politically lazy” and arguing that supporting a presidential candidate should not stop political parties from fielding candidates for governorship and legislative positions.
The disagreement has consequently created fresh tension within Tinubu’s political camp, particularly over the activities of the Rainbow Coalition in APC-controlled states.
Wike, however, maintains that the coalition is not an APC structure but a platform bringing together politicians from different parties in support of Tinubu’s second-term bid.
A source familiar with the matter said Tinubu was expected to listen to the concerns of the governors, Wike and other stakeholders as efforts to resolve the dispute gather momentum.
There was no official confirmation of the proposed meeting as of press time.
Meanwhile, a Presidency source said Tinubu was already aware of alleged moves by some APC governors to undermine the party in their respective states.
The source added that the president had spoken with Uzodimma over alleged involvement of some governors in anti-party activities and expressed concern that such actions could weaken the APC ahead of 2027.
Uzodimma Aide Fires Back At Wike
The political confrontation also spilled into another exchange after Uzodimma’s media aide warned Wike against making disparaging comments about the Imo governor.
Nwamkpa, the governor’s Special Assistant on Print Media, said Uzodimma was different from former Rivers governors Rotimi Amaechi and Celestine Omehia, as well as incumbent Governor Siminalayi Fubara, whom Wike has previously criticised.
He urged the FCT minister to exercise caution in his public comments about Uzodimma.
APC Chairman May Cut Short Vacation
Amid the growing tension, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda may reportedly cut short his overseas vacation and return to Nigeria to help resolve the dispute.
Yilwatda commenced a two-week vacation last Wednesday after what his media aide described as a demanding first year in office.
However, the disagreement between Wike and the APC governors erupted barely a week into his break.
Party sources said the APC National Working Committee (NWC) was concerned about the dispute and could intervene, even as the party weighs how best to manage the growing disagreement.
One source said Yilwatda could return before the weekend to mobilise members of the NWC towards finding a solution.
Okechukwu Backs Tinubu-Wike Relationship
APC founding member Osita Okechukwu, meanwhile, cautioned Tinubu against yielding to demands that he distance himself from Wike’s coalition.
Okechukwu argued that there was nothing inherently wrong with Tinubu maintaining his political relationship with Wike, particularly given the former Rivers governor’s role in the 2023 presidential election.
He urged the president to maintain a broad political coalition ahead of 2027 rather than allow internal disagreements to narrow his political support base.
Okechukwu also advised APC governors to strengthen their relationship with voters in their respective states instead of seeking to influence Tinubu’s relationship with political allies.
‘Stop Talking, Go And Work’
A spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Ima Niboro, urged the politicians involved in the dispute to tone down their public exchanges and concentrate on grassroots mobilisation.
Speaking on Arise Television’s The Morning Show, Niboro told political actors to take their campaigns to voters instead of engaging in prolonged verbal exchanges.
He urged politicians to engage communities, marketplaces and other grassroots constituencies in preparation for the 2027 elections.
Rivers APC Backs Wike Coalition
The Rivers State chapter of the APC has rejected calls to withdraw from the Rainbow Coalition.
The state party said it would continue working with Wike and other political parties, groups and individuals involved in the alliance to support Tinubu and other candidates in 2027.
It also urged APC governors to build wider alliances and engage other groups in order to strengthen voter mobilisation.
The Rivers APC argued that political conditions differ from one state to another and that strategies used in one part of the country should not automatically be imposed on others.
The PDP also defended Wike’s political activities, arguing that the former Rivers governor remained a significant political actor with the constitutional right to decide whom he supports.
Analysts Warn Of Wider Political Fallout
Political scientists have warned that the dispute could have wider implications for the 2027 elections.
Professor Ezekiel Major Adeyi of the University of Jos said Wike’s political activities had introduced another dimension into the emerging electoral calculations, arguing that the former Rivers governor was operating outside conventional party structures while supporting Tinubu’s re-election.
Professor Tukur Muhammad Baba, however, described the confrontation as unhealthy for the polity and urged Tinubu to address the disagreement.
Professor Felix Asogwa of Enugu State University of Science and Technology said the dispute reflected deeper disagreements over party loyalty and political interests, warning that continued tensions could trigger further crises.
Similarly, Professor Hassan Saliu, immediate past president of the Nigeria Political Scientists Association, said the governors’ rejection of the Rainbow Coalition marked a significant escalation.
He said the APC now faced the challenge of balancing party cohesion with political inclusion ahead of 2027.
Associate Professor Anthony Egobueze of Rivers State University said the coalition could alter the influence of other political parties and groups, particularly in contests for offices beyond the presidency.
With the dispute now involving Wike, the APC governors, the party leadership and competing political interests, pressure is mounting on Tinubu to manage the competing demands within his wider political camp ahead of the 2027 elections.
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