Wike Blasts APC Governors as ‘Politically Lazy’ Over Rainbow Coalition

By Reporter

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has described governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as “politically lazy” following their opposition to his proposed Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Wike made the remark on Tuesday night during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, in reaction to the position of the APC Governors’ Forum rejecting political alliances that could weaken the party or undermine President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The APC governors, led by Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, had declared that they would not participate in, support or endorse any political arrangement capable of undermining Tinubu’s re-election or adversely affecting APC candidates at any level.

But Wike dismissed their position, arguing that his support for Tinubu did not amount to abandoning the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), nor did it mean other political parties should be prevented from fielding candidates in the 2027 elections.

“They are politically lazy. When you have your local problems, don’t use Mr President as your excuse,” Wike said.

The FCT minister maintained that the Rainbow Coalition was designed to mobilise support for Tinubu across political parties, while allowing those parties to retain the freedom to field candidates for governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly elections.

He argued that Nigeria’s electoral history showed that voters could support candidates from different political parties in separate elections held on the same day.

Wike cited the 2023 elections, particularly results from Imo State, where he questioned how APC candidates could win legislative seats while Tinubu recorded a relatively low share of the presidential vote in the state.

He also cited governors such as Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra, Ademola Adeleke of Osun and Alex Otti of Abia, arguing that their support for Tinubu did not necessarily prevent their respective political parties from fielding candidates in other elections.

Wike further said he had never approached the APC Governors’ Forum seeking an alliance, insisting that his political activities were focused on supporting Tinubu’s presidential bid.

“There’s no day I went to the Governors Forum to align with coalition,” he said, according to Arise News.

He also maintained that his political disagreements with some governors did not begin with his support for Tinubu, recalling opposition he faced during his tenure as Rivers State governor and subsequently as FCT minister.

The exchange has added another layer to the emerging political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, with Wike advocating cross-party support for Tinubu while APC governors insist on protecting the party and its candidates at all levels.