Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal says he is part of the campaign by All Progressives Congress (APC) governors to oppose the political arrangement associated with Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike ahead of the 2027 elections.
Mr Lawal said the APC governors’ position on the so-called Rainbow Coalition remained unchanged, insisting that Mr Wike must clarify his political allegiance.
The governor made the remarks in an interview with Channels Television’s Inside Sources on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
“I’m part of that mission, and our message is very, very clear: be on one side. You can’t be on two sides,” Mr Lawal said.
The Rainbow Coalition is a cross-party political platform associated with Mr Wike and other political actors seeking support for President Bola Tinubu’s bid for re-election in 2027.
Mr Wike, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has repeatedly said he supports Mr Tinubu’s presidential bid while maintaining that the PDP should remain free to field candidates in governorship and legislative elections.
But the APC governors have objected to the arrangement, arguing that supporting the president while backing candidates from other parties could create political complications for APC candidates.
“If you are in APC, please come out and support the APC, not you are supporting APC here and you are supporting some other political parties somewhere else,” Mr Lawal said.
He added that the governors would maintain their position regardless of Mr Wike’s comments.
“Our position has been very clear, APC all the way from head to toe,” he said.
Asked whether the governors were effectively asking Mr Wike to join the APC, Mr Lawal replied: “Exactly.”
He also said he would raise the matter with President Tinubu when the president returns from his working visit abroad.
“Let there be a clear line where this guy belongs to. It’s either he’s in APC or he’s out, simple,” Mr Lawal said.
Mr Wike has defended the Rainbow Coalition, rejecting suggestions that it was created to weaken existing political parties. He has maintained that his support for Mr Tinubu does not prevent other parties from contesting the 2027 governorship and legislative elections. (Channels Television)
The disagreement highlights growing political tensions within and around the ruling APC as political actors position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
