The political disagreement between Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and some governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has widened as political actors position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The dispute centres largely on Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, a multi-party political arrangement that he says is focused on mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election while allowing participating parties to maintain their own candidates in other races.
APC governors, however, have expressed concern about political structures operating outside the party’s established machinery. The Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, has said APC governors remain committed to the party and would not support arrangements that could undermine APC candidates.
APC Governors Reportedly Divided Over Wike
A report by Vanguard on Thursday said the disagreement has exposed divisions among APC governors, with some governors reportedly sympathetic to Wike while others have aligned with Uzodimma and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
The report cited unnamed party sources who said some governors maintain relationships with Wike, who was himself a governor of Rivers State before becoming FCT minister.
The same report identified Adamawa Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno, Edo Governor Monday Okpebholo, Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Kogi Governor Ahmed Ododo as governors reportedly sympathetic to Wike’s position.
On the other side, it listed Uzodimma, AbdulRazaq, Kaduna Governor Uba Sani and Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun among those said to oppose his position. Vanguard also reported that some governors were yet to take a firm position.
These reports are based partly on unnamed sources, so the reported alignment of individual governors should be treated as a developing political account rather than a formal declaration by each governor.
Why Wike’s Rainbow Coalition Is Causing Tension
The central disagreement is over whether politicians can support Tinubu for president while simultaneously operating political structures that may support candidates from other parties in governorship and legislative contests.
Wike has maintained that there is no contradiction.
He has said the Rainbow Coalition is mobilising support for Tinubu’s presidential bid, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains free to field candidates for governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.
APC governors have taken a different position.
The PGF has warned against political arrangements capable of creating parallel structures that could weaken the APC or affect the party’s candidates during the 2027 elections.
That difference has turned what might otherwise have been a dispute over campaign strategy into a broader argument about political organisation ahead of the election.
Uzodimma and AbdulRazaq at the Centre of the Dispute
Uzodimma, who chairs the Progressive Governors’ Forum, has emerged as one of the most prominent APC voices opposing the Rainbow Coalition’s political structure.
Wike has also criticised Uzodimma and AbdulRazaq during the dispute.
Premium Times reported that Wike attributed the governors’ opposition partly to political calculations surrounding leadership positions in the National Assembly, including the Senate presidency and House speakership. That explanation is Wike’s own assessment of the governors’ motives and has not been independently established as the reason for their opposition.
The disagreement therefore involves more than whether the coalition supports Tinubu. It also touches on how political influence will be organised at the presidential, governorship and legislative levels.
Wike Says His 2027 Strategy Is Also Focused on Atiku and Obi
The dispute comes as Wike has publicly discussed his political calculations for the 2027 presidential election.
On Wednesday, the FCT minister said a new strategy had been put in place to counter former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Peter Obi, who is associated with the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential contest.
Wike’s comments followed controversy over his explanation of the strategy used by the PDP’s G5 governors during the 2023 presidential election.
Wike said the G5 considered Atiku a greater political threat at the time and encouraged voters in parts of the South-South to support Obi rather than allow Atiku to benefit from the PDP’s traditional strength in the region.
He specifically referred to Edo and Cross River when explaining the strategy.
“Our strategy was, make sure that you vote for Obi to win in order to deny Atiku the votes.”
Wike has rejected interpretations that his comments amounted to an admission of electoral manipulation or rigging. He argued that political parties and blocs routinely develop strategies based on their assessment of electoral threats.
Wike Maintains Support for Tinubu in 2027
Despite remaining a PDP member, Wike has repeatedly said he supports Tinubu’s bid for another term in office.
In September, he said his support for Tinubu did not prevent the PDP from contesting other positions at the state and legislative levels.
His position has become an important part of the current disagreement because the Rainbow Coalition brings politicians from different parties together around the presidential contest while those parties can still compete against one another in other elections.
That arrangement is what APC governors have questioned, particularly where coalition activity could affect APC candidates.
Reports of Possible Opposition Alliances
The dispute has also generated reports of possible alternative political alliances.
Premium Times reported on September 23 that an APC member and promoter of the Tinubu Continuity Project, Yusuf Musa, claimed some aggrieved APC governors were discussing a possible relationship with Atiku Abubakar as a way of countering Wike’s coalition.
The report presented the allegation as a claim rather than an established alliance. There has not been confirmation that the governors named in the report have formally joined an opposition arrangement.
This distinction is important as political negotiations ahead of 2027 intensify.
What the Rift Means for the 2027 Political Landscape
The disagreement highlights a broader question about how Tinubu’s re-election campaign will be organised across different political structures.
Wike’s approach is based on supporting Tinubu at the presidential level while maintaining political independence at other levels.
The APC governors’ position places greater emphasis on protecting the party’s own candidates and organisational structure.
The two positions can overlap at the presidential level but conflict when politicians are competing for governorship, National Assembly and state assembly seats.
That is why the dispute has attracted attention beyond the personalities involved.
What Happens Next?
The immediate focus will be on how APC leaders manage the disagreement and whether the competing political structures can coexist as the 2027 election cycle becomes more active.
Wike has shown no indication that he intends to abandon his support for Tinubu or the Rainbow Coalition. At the same time, APC governors have continued to emphasise the importance of the party’s own structure and candidates.
Reports that some governors remain undecided also suggest that political alignments may continue to change as negotiations develop.
For now, the dispute remains primarily a political contest over strategy, organisation and influence ahead of the 2027 elections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Wike and some APC governors disagreeing?
The disagreement centres on Wike’s Rainbow Coalition and its role in the 2027 election. Wike says the coalition is designed to mobilise support for Tinubu while allowing different parties to maintain their own candidates in other races. APC governors have expressed concern that parallel political structures could weaken the party and its candidates.
What is Wike’s Rainbow Coalition?
The Rainbow Coalition is a multi-party political arrangement promoted by Wike. He has described it as a platform for mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid rather than a replacement for the APC or PDP.
Which APC governors are reportedly opposed to Wike?
Recent reports have identified Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma, Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Kaduna Governor Uba Sani and Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun among those opposed to Wike’s position. These reported alignments are based partly on political sources and statements, and individual positions can change.
Why is Wike talking about the G5’s 2023 strategy again?
Wike recently explained that the PDP’s G5 governors adopted a strategy aimed at reducing Atiku Abubakar’s advantage in parts of the South-South during the 2023 presidential election. He said the group encouraged support for Peter Obi in some states because it considered Atiku the greater political threat at the time.
Does Wike support Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election?
Yes. Wike has publicly stated that he supports President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, while maintaining that the PDP should remain free to contest governorship and legislative elections.
