President Bola Tinubu is expected to step in to resolve the widening political rift between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and governors elected on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform.
Tinubu, currently on a three-week working visit to Europe, is due back in Nigeria this weekend. Sources say he may meet members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) as early as next week to try to calm tensions that have escalated ahead of the 2027 elections. There are also reports that Wike, who is in Spain, might meet Tinubu in France before the president returns.
The row intensified after APC governors, led by PGF chairman and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, publicly rejected any arrangement they said could undermine the party or its candidates in 2027. The governors insist they will back only candidates officially sponsored by the APC and warned against endorsements or alliances that could weaken the party.
That declaration was widely seen as a reaction to Wike’s so‑called Rainbow Coalition, which he says is focused on mobilising support for Tinubu’s re‑election rather than backing APC candidates in other contests. Wike insists his support for Tinubu does not mean he has abandoned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and says he remains free to back candidates of his choice in state and legislative races. He has also criticised the APC governors, calling them “politically lazy” and arguing that supporting a presidential candidate should not stop parties from contesting other posts.
The dispute has strained Tinubu’s political camp, with some APC governors uneasy about the coalition’s activities in their states. Wike maintains the Rainbow Coalition is not an APC structure but a cross‑party platform backing Tinubu.
A presidency source said Tinubu plans to hear from the governors, Wike and other stakeholders, though there was no official confirmation of a meeting at press time. Text messages to the President’s special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, went unanswered. Another source said Tinubu had already discussed alleged anti‑party behaviour with Uzodimma and was concerned such actions could harm the APC’s chances in affected states in 2027.
Uzodimma’s media aide, Nwamkpa, warned Wike against insulting the Imo governor. In a statement, Nwamkpa said: “Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike… we heard the insults you directed towards our governor, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma. I fail to comprehend why you choose to confront anyone. Hope Uzodimma is cherished by the people of Imo. Any insult directed at Uzodimma is an affront to the people of Imo. I advise you to exercise caution.”
APC national chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, currently on a two‑week vacation abroad, may cut short his break to help address the stand‑off. Party sources say the APC National Working Committee (NWC) is likely to intervene, and Yilwatda could return before the weekend to mobilise NWC members, although his office has not confirmed this.
APC founding member Osita Okechukwu urged Tinubu not to abandon Wike at the governors’ behest. Okechukwu said Tinubu should keep a broad coalition, noting Wike’s contribution to the 2023 election and arguing that the governors should focus on rebuilding ties with their electorates rather than asking the president to sever political relationships. “Mr President, beware of pretenders,” he warned.
APC Presidential Campaign Council spokesperson Ima Niboro called on all sides to stop trading insults and take their campaigns to the grassroots. “Stop talking, go and work,” he said on Arise Television’s The Morning Show, urging political leaders to engage voters in communities and marketplaces.
In Rivers State, the APC said it would not pull out of the Rainbow Coalition and advised APC governors to build more alliances and broaden mobilisation efforts. The state party argued that electioneering is local and that different states require different approaches. The PDP has also defended Wike, saying he has the democratic right to back whoever he chooses.
Political scientists warned the dispute could have wider consequences. Professor Ezekiel Major Adeyi of the University of Jos said the tension reflects changing modes of mobilisation and that Wike, though not an APC member, has become influential and is likely focused on Tinubu’s re‑election rather than on backing APC governors’ local ambitions.
Professor Tukur Muhammad Baba called the fight unhealthy for the polity and urged Tinubu to either caution Wike or remove him from office if necessary, arguing the feud creates confusion about political direction. Professor Felix Asogwa said the clash highlights the lack of clear ideological lines between parties and warned it could spark a deeper crisis. Professor Hassan Saliu said the governors’ public rejection of the Rainbow Coalition marked a significant escalation and urged reconciliation ahead of 2027. Dr Anthony Egobueze of Rivers State University warned that the coalition could diminish the influence of other parties at state level if not managed.
Key points at issue include revenge, ego, political survival, control of party structures and the desire to shape succession. Tinubu and APC leaders are expected to intervene once the president returns. Observers who spoke with OBSERVERS TIMES say the rift threatens party cohesion and could complicate efforts to secure votes in 2027, while the struggle is also about who will remain politically relevant beyond that election and who benefits in 2031.
