President Bola Tinubu is set to wade into the growing political face-off between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, amid rising tensions ahead of the 2027 elections.
The President is expected to bring the two sides together and seek a resolution to their differences, with the intervention likely to take place in France, where Tinubu is currently on vacation.
The move comes as the disagreement over Wike’s political activities and his Rainbow Coalition continues to generate tension within the ruling party.
Wike, a former Rivers State governor and prominent member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, is backing Tinubu’s bid for a second term while operating outside the APC structure.
His Rainbow Coalition has, however, become a major source of friction, particularly with some APC governors who are concerned about its activities in their states.
Wike recently singled out Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and his Imo State counterpart, Hope Uzodimma, accusing them of being behind moves against his political interests.
The minister linked their opposition to the expansion of his coalition, which he said was providing a platform for politicians who want to challenge APC candidates in governorship and legislative elections.
But Uzodimma, who heads the APC Progressive Governors’ Forum, made the governors’ position clear after their recent meeting in Abuja.
The Imo governor said the APC governors would not support any political arrangement capable of weakening the party, hurting its candidates or undermining Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign.
The governors’ position has put them on a collision course with Wike, who insists that his support for Tinubu does not amount to automatic support for APC candidates in other elections.
The FCT minister has maintained that he is free to support candidates of his choice while working for Tinubu’s return to the presidency.
Wike has also questioned the political strength of some APC governors, arguing that they lack the capacity to deliver victory in their respective states.
POLITICAL BATTLE BEYOND 2027
The disagreement is also being linked to wider political calculations extending beyond the 2027 elections.
Issues surrounding the 2031 political realignment, control of the 11th National Assembly and the emergence of candidates who could challenge APC governors and their allies are said to be adding fuel to the dispute.
The growing tension has unsettled some party stakeholders, with concerns that a prolonged battle could create conflicting political interests within the President’s camp.
APC leaders in the South-East have also rallied behind the governors, rejecting Wike’s criticism and calling for respect for the party’s elected officials.
Wike, however, has continued to defend his political strategy, insisting that his coalition is primarily aimed at helping Tinubu secure the presidency while allowing politicians to pursue their interests in other contests.
The minister has also denied approaching APC governors to join his coalition, describing the governors’ position as unnecessary.
TINUBU STEPS IN
With the disagreement threatening to widen, Tinubu is now expected to step in and prevent the minister and the governors from working at cross-purposes.
A senior presidential source said the President, as leader of the ruling party, would seek a way to reconcile the competing interests and ensure that the political differences do not affect his 2027 campaign.
The source explained that both Wike and the APC governors profess support for Tinubu, making it necessary to find common ground between them.
The proposed intervention is expected to take place outside Nigeria, possibly in France, before the end of the week.
The move is aimed at calming the growing tension and ensuring that the various political forces supporting Tinubu do not turn their differences into an open confrontation ahead of the 2027 elections.
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