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ABUJA, NIGERIA — SEPTEMBER 15, 2026 — Strong indications have emerged that powerful blocs within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), led by influential state governors, have moved to counter the political activities of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and his self-styled “National Rainbow Coalition”.
The pushback follows a series of high-level closed-door meetings in Abuja where APC governors voiced deep concern over Wike’s cross-party machinery. Party leaders argue that the minister’s strategy—which involves supporting opposition candidates under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other platforms while declaring support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the presidential level—directly threatens the electoral survival of APC state and legislative candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Internal Backlash and Clashing Political Interests
Tensions between the FCT Minister and APC state chief executives flared publicly after Wike openly accused Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), of spearheading opposition against his coalition.
APC stakeholders have cautioned that Wike’s strategy risks creating severe voter confusion, particularly in rural enclaves where ticket-splitting is rare. Governors expressed concern over scenarios where voters might back President Tinubu for re-election while rejecting APC candidates for the National Assembly and state offices in favor of PDP candidates backed by Wike’s network.
The political friction has expanded beyond Kwara and Imo to states including Gombe, Cross River, and Rivers, where local APC chapters accuse the minister of building a parallel political structure that undermines established party authority.
Grassroots Groups Warn Against Repeating PDP’s G5 Crisis
Adding to the governors’ resistance, party organs including the APC Grassroots Governance Organization issued statements calling on the national leadership to intervene. The group likened Wike’s current maneuvers to the internal rebellion of the G5 governors that fractured the PDP prior to the 2023 elections, warning that allowing a similar “political army” to operate unchecked within the APC would cause serious instability.
While Wike’s allies maintain that the Rainbow Coalition broadens President Tinubu’s electoral base by drawing support from opposition elements, APC governors insist that cross-party alliances cannot come at the expense of party discipline or state-level candidates.
With the party hierarchy under pressure to take a formal stance, observers note that Wike faces a crucial test: reconciling his independent political network with the institutional demands of the governing party he currently serves.
