The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the escalating feud between Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike and APC governors regarding the 2027 Rainbow Coalition.
Ima Niboro, the spokesman for the campaign council, characterized the rift as an internal dispute among political allies.
He emphasized that while both factions share the ultimate objective of securing President Tinubu’s re-election, they remain sharply divided on operational strategies.
The political tension intensified after APC governors, led by Progressive Governors Forum chairman and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, publicly rejected any political arrangements that could undermine the ruling party or threaten Tinubu’s re-election.
In response, Wike defended his Rainbow Coalition as a multi-party platform strictly dedicated to backing Tinubu’s return in 2027 while allowing members to retain individual party identities for other elections.
Dismissing the governors as “politically lazy,” Wike argued that presidential support should not preclude competition in down-ballot races.
Weighing in on the public spat, Niboro urged both camps to halt their media exchanges and redirect their focus toward grassroots political mobilization.
He noted that because the friction has already begun trickling down to state and local government structures, presidential intervention is vital to safeguard political harmony.
Niboro maintained that although governors possess considerable constitutional influence, the core mission for all stakeholders remains unified behind Tinubu.
Other party chieftains have offered mixed recommendations on how to handle the growing controversy.
APC figure Joe Igbokwe encouraged direct dialogue, asserting that Wike is a critical stakeholder wielding significant command who should personally brief the governors on his intentions.
The growing fallout highlights deeper anxieties within the ruling party over the coalition’s footprint in strategic states like Rivers, Kwara, Gombe, and Cross River.
As parallel political structures begin to challenge established APC machinery at the local level, party stakeholders remain divided on whether to embrace external coalition partners or fiercely protect existing party dominance ahead of the 2027 polls.
