Wike Challenges APC Governors’ Influence, Says Supporting Tinubu Does Not Mean Backing APC Candidates

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has challenged the political influence of All Progressives Congress (APC) governors, arguing that their positions as governors do not automatically make them dominant forces in every election.

Wike made the remarks during an interview with ARISE TV while responding to the APC Governors Forum’s rejection of his proposed Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections. The governors had said they would support official APC candidates at all levels and reject political arrangements capable of weakening the party.

The former Rivers State governor questioned the basis for the governors' opposition to his political strategy, arguing that the key issue should be whether political actors can deliver votes in their respective states.

“Yes, they are governors, I agree. They have influence, but influence should count more in your own state as far as election is concerned,” Wike said.

He argued that political influence should ultimately be measured by electoral performance, rather than simply by occupying the office of governor.

“At the end of the day, if Mr President does not win in your state, what would you be talking about?” he asked.

Wike also rejected suggestions that the APC governors' position demonstrated that his political influence had diminished at the presidential level. He maintained that President Bola Tinubu was aware of his political activities and that his support for the President remained clear.

According to Wike, his support is specifically for Tinubu's re-election and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of APC candidates contesting governorship or legislative elections.

The FCT Minister has repeatedly argued that the Rainbow Coalition is not an alliance with the APC, but rather an effort by politicians from different parties to mobilise support for Tinubu's presidential bid while their respective parties remain free to contest other elections.

He cited examples of politicians who support Tinubu at the presidential level while belonging to parties that may field candidates against APC candidates in other elections.

Wike specifically questioned why supporting Tinubu should prevent a political party from presenting its own candidates for the National Assembly, governorship or State House of Assembly elections.

He also dismissed the idea that APC governors could determine which candidates other political actors should support in their respective states.

The minister maintained that he had never approached the APC Governors Forum seeking an alliance, saying the governors' response was therefore unnecessary.

“There is no day I went to the Governors’ Forum to align with any Rainbow Coalition—there is no such day,” Wike said in an earlier portion of the interview.

Wike further argued that his political activities were not intended to undermine Tinubu, insisting that his stated objective was to help secure the President's re-election in 2027.

The disagreement has exposed a significant political difference within the broader group supporting Tinubu: while the APC Governors Forum is insisting on loyalty to official APC candidates across the ballot, Wike is advocating a cross-party arrangement focused specifically on the presidential election.

The dispute is likely to remain part of the political debate as parties and individual politicians position themselves for the 2027 elections.