A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Farouq Aliyu, has warned Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, against using his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to influence the internal affairs of the ruling party.
Aliyu made the remarks while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today amid the growing disagreement between Wike and APC governors over his proposed “Rainbow Coalition” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The former lawmaker accused Wike of adopting what he described as an arrogant approach to political engagement, particularly following the minister’s criticism of APC governors.
Wike had described some APC governors as “politically lazy” while defending his political activities and the coalition he says is focused on mobilising support for Tinubu’s re-election.
His comments came after the APC Governors’ Forum rejected political arrangements that could undermine the party’s candidates or weaken its structure ahead of the 2027 elections.
Responding to Wike’s position, Aliyu said the APC appreciated the minister’s political role in the build-up to the 2023 presidential election but would not allow him to influence the ruling party in a manner that could strengthen the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Aliyu argued that Wike’s continued membership of the PDP, alongside his support for Tinubu, had created political tensions within the ruling party.
He maintained that while Wike was free to support the president, such support should not be used as a basis for determining the political interests of APC governors and candidates.
The dispute centres largely on Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, which he has described as a multi-party platform aimed at mobilising support for Tinubu’s second-term bid.
Wike has repeatedly clarified that his support for Tinubu does not mean the PDP will abandon its participation in governorship and legislative elections. He has also said the coalition is separate from the APC and allows politicians from different parties to support the president while pursuing their own political interests at other levels.
However, APC governors have rejected the arrangement, arguing that political alliances involving candidates from other parties could weaken the ruling party’s structures and affect its candidates in 2027.
The APC South-East caucus has also backed the governors and called on Wike to apologise over comments concerning their political capacity. The group said elected APC governors had demonstrated their ability to mobilise support for Tinubu and should not be treated with disrespect.
The disagreement has particularly intensified as politicians begin positioning themselves for the 2027 elections, with questions emerging over whether support for Tinubu at the presidential level can coexist with competing party interests in governorship and legislative contests.
In Rivers State, where Wike previously served as governor, the coalition has become a major part of the political realignment ahead of the election.
The growing dispute has also attracted the attention of President Tinubu, who is reportedly expected to engage the parties involved in an effort to resolve the disagreements between Wike and APC governors.
For now, Wike continues to maintain his support for Tinubu, while APC leaders insist that the party’s structure and candidates must remain protected ahead of the 2027 elections.
The disagreement highlights the complex political alliances developing ahead of the next general election, particularly where individual politicians support the same presidential candidate while belonging to different parties and backing different candidates at the state level.
