The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is facing a potential internal crisis. Some of its governors reportedly feel sidelined. They're rumoured to be exploring a political alliance with Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC). This surprising development comes as a direct reaction to the burgeoning 'Rainbow Coalition' spearheaded by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Yusuf Musa, a promoter of the Tinubu Continuity Project and a chieftain of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), revealed the governors' discontent. He stated that these APC governors aren't contemplating leaving the party. They're keen on building alternative political relationships instead. Their reasoning is straightforward. If Wike can rally politicians from various parties to support President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid through his coalition, then they, the governors whose political futures are at stake, should also be free to forge their own alliances.
Musa made these remarks in a statement released on Wednesday.
Musa, a former board member of the News Agency of Nigeria, warned that this proposed alliance with Atiku could gain serious traction. This would happen if President Tinubu and the APC leadership fail to intervene in the brewing dispute over Wike's coalition. He voiced his concerns earlier this week on TVC's Breakfast Show. He issued a stark warning: "If he doesn’t retrace his steps and allow us to campaign in peace, we are going to make this country very hot for him."
The 'Rainbow Coalition', initially a structure for Wike’s political influence in his home state of Rivers, has expanded its reach across the nation. Wike, a prominent figure in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), currently serves in the APC-led federal government. He insists the coalition is solely to mobilise support for President Tinubu's re-election. However, this narrative hasn't sat well with many within the APC.
APC governors have vocally opposed the coalition. They view it as a deliberate attempt to undermine the party's structure and its candidates in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections. Beyond that, several APC leaders have accused Wike of using the coalition to back candidates who lost the party's primaries. These candidates are now running under the PDP banner. The APC Governors Forum, chaired by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, has officially rejected the coalition.
They stated clearly that the governors won't support any arrangement that could jeopardise the party and its electoral prospects.
But Wike isn't backing down. He's hit back, accusing the governors of opposing his coalition out of fear of losing their own elections. He's even gone as far as criticising their performance in their respective states. Specifically, he named Governors Uzodimma, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State as opponents acting on "selfish reasons." His own party, the PDP, has surprisingly backed his efforts to mobilise for Tinubu, despite fielding their own presidential candidate, Sandy Onor.
The APC's national leadership has remained conspicuously silent on the matter. This leaves many to wonder how this internal conflict between a powerful minister and key state governors will be resolved. The APC South-East caucus and other party mobilisation groups have also called on Wike to apologise to the governors for his comments about their political capabilities and their opposition to his coalition.
Musa’s claims suggest that while the governors are confident in President Tinubu's chances of winning the 2027 presidential election, they're deeply worried about the coalition’s potential to disrupt their own campaign structures. A significant point of concern is Wike's assertion that the President has already allocated nine states to his coalition for the upcoming governorship and legislative elections. Musa cautions against dismissing these claims as mere political bravado. He reminds everyone that in politics, especially concerning elections, nothing should be taken for granted.