The political disagreement between Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and members of the All Progressives Congress has intensified, with APC leaders in the South-East declaring support for the party’s Progressive Governors’ Forum ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a joint statement, APC National Vice Chairman for the South-East, Ijeomah Arodiogbu, and the party chairmen in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states condemned Wike’s recent criticism of APC governors and called for support for the party’s candidates at all levels.
The leaders described the attacks on the governors as “most unfortunate, reprehensible and completely unacceptable,” arguing that the governors had demonstrated their capacity through their respective records and by securing more than 25 per cent of the presidential vote in their states during the 2023 election.
They also rejected the “Rainbow Coalition” associated with Wike, saying the APC would protect its structures in the region and resist efforts to undermine its candidates.
The South-East leaders said the APC was “bigger than any individual” and urged members to support candidates from President Bola Tinubu down to the State Houses of Assembly.
Wike, who remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party while serving in Tinubu’s cabinet, has maintained that his political coalition is aimed at helping the President secure re-election in 2027. He has also accused some APC governors of failing to do enough for Tinubu during the 2023 election.
He recently questioned how APC secured two Senate seats in Imo State in 2023 while Tinubu did not receive substantial support in the state.
Former APC lawmaker Farouk Aliyu, however, criticised Wike’s description of the governors as “lazy” and urged the minister to moderate his public comments.
Speaking on Arise TV, Aliyu said Wike’s contribution to Tinubu’s 2023 victory was acknowledged but argued that the minister had already been compensated through his appointment as FCT Minister.
He urged APC members not to allow the dispute to distract the party, while calling on Wike to avoid remarks that could further heighten political tensions.
Another APC chieftain, Abdulmumin Jibrin, offered a different position, defending Wike and warning party members against publicly embarrassing him.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Jibrin described Wike as an important political asset, saying APC members had benefited directly or indirectly from his efforts to support Tinubu.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima’s office clarified remarks about Northern governors’ support for Tinubu. His media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, said Shettima was referring specifically to political consultations before the APC presidential primary in June 2022.
He stressed that the remarks were not intended to question the support of Northern APC governors after Tinubu emerged as the party’s candidate or during the 2023 presidential election.
The clarification said Northern APC governors subsequently supported Tinubu’s campaign and contributed to the party’s victory.
