Several state chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have rejected the Rainbow Coalition promoted by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, urging him to formally join the ruling party if he is genuinely committed to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.
The reactions followed a renewed confrontation between Wike and APC governors over the political structure he is assembling ahead of the 2027 elections. Wike, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member, was appointed FCT minister by Tinubu after the 2023 election, despite having contested the presidency under the opposition party.
While some chapters welcomed Wike’s support for Tinubu and said they would receive him if he defected, others opposed the coalition outright, arguing that a politician cannot back the APC at the presidential level while supporting other parties in governorship and legislative races. The dispute has exposed a growing disagreement within Tinubu’s camp over who should control the structures mobilising support for his re-election.
The latest row was triggered by Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, who told Wike to choose between the APC and the coalition. Speaking on Channels Television’s Inside Sources on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, Lawal said the governors’ position was unchanged. “Our message is very, very clear: Be on one side. You can’t be on two sides. If you’re in APC, please come out and support APC. Not you’re supporting APC here, and you’re supporting other political parties somewhere else. It doesn’t make sense. It’s not done anywhere,” he said.
Asked whether the governors wanted Wike to join the APC, Lawal replied, “Exactly. What’s the essence?” He said he would raise the matter with the President. “Let there be a very, very clear line where this guy belongs to. It’s either he’s in APC or he’s out. It’s simple. And I go with my brothers, the governors,” he said.
Chapters push back
Imo APC Publicity Secretary Jones Onwuasoanya said Wike was “playing hide and seek with his loyalty.” He added, “If Wike is sincere about his support for President Tinubu, then he should join the APC and begin to campaign for our party across all positions rather than being selective.” He said there was “nothing like a Rainbow Coalition” in Imo.
In Gombe, Publicity Secretary Murtala Usman said, “Since he is doing the work of APC, let him be a full member, not a partial member,” warning the coalition could cause confusion among party stakeholders.
Ondo APC Secretary Alex Kalejaiye said the chapter was disturbed that the coalition would support only Tinubu while fielding candidates for other positions. “Support for the candidates of the ruling party must be total… That is not negotiable,” he said, appealing to Wike to collapse his structures into the APC.
Anambra APC Chairman Emmanuel Anosike said the coalition was “an insult to the integrity and sensibility of the APC and its governors,” adding that Wike, as a PDP member, should stop meddling in the party’s internal affairs.
Kwara APC Chairman Sunday Fagbemi called the strategy “a grand deception and a confusing strategy,” noting that presidential, senatorial and House of Representatives elections hold on the same day. “If you are an APC member, the election is five out of five,” he said.
Plateau APC Chairman Rufus Bature said the coalition was “condemned totally for every state” at a retreat with the national chairman in Maiduguri. “He cannot be APC in the morning and PDP in the night,” he said, suggesting Wike may be building structure for 2031 or 2035. He said the coalition “might be a threat, but we are not taking it for granted.”
Nasarawa Publicity Secretary Augustine Ogaba said the chapter appreciated Wike’s support for Tinubu but would be “happier if he joins our party.” Bauchi APC spokesman Shehu Dauda said the party does not believe in divided loyalty.
Welcome and division
Jigawa APC Publicity Secretary Bashir Kundu said the party would “certainly welcome” Wike if he joined, noting the APC itself emerged from a coalition of parties.
In Benue, reactions split along factional lines. Organising secretary James Orgunga of one faction praised Wike but said he should join the party. Daniel Ihomun, publicity secretary of a faction loyal to SGF George Akume, said, “He should not join APC; he should remain where he is because he has helped to destroy PDP for us.”
In Rivers, the APC faction led by Emeka Beke backed the Progressive Governors Forum. Its publicity secretary, Darlington Nwauju, said, “Join the APC or leave her alone. You cannot stand [and] use your association with the APC to rebuild the PDP.”
Chapters staying neutral
Osun APC spokesman Kola Olabisi and Delta APC Chairman Solomon Arenyeka said the matter should be decided by the national leadership. Bayelsa chieftain Doubara Joseph urged Wike to join the party, though the state chairman declined to comment. Sokoto Chairman Haruna Adiya said the state had no member in the coalition. Niger APC spokesman Musa Sarkin-Kaji said the party had “no business with Wike,” though it appreciated his relationship with the party.
Works Minister David Umahi said there was no Rainbow Coalition in Ebonyi State, and warned against hate speech and attempts to foment crisis during campaigns.
Wike’s defence
In a statement by his aide Lere Olayinka, Wike said the coalition supports only Tinubu’s presidential re-election and does not stop other parties from contesting governorship and legislative seats. He argued his position mirrors the 2023 arrangement, when he and other G5 members backed Tinubu without joining the APC, and maintained that “politics is local.”
Some PDP figures insist he remains in the opposition party. Abia PDP deputy governorship candidate Abraham Amah described the APC’s invitation as political courting. “He remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, and he is the national leader of the party,” he said.
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