A promoter of the Tinubu Continuity Project, Yusuf Musa, has revealed that some aggrieved governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are exploring a possible alliance with Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), ahead of the 2027 elections. This proposed alliance is aimed at countering the Rainbow Coalition being promoted by Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, as a campaign structure for President Bola Tinubu's re-election.
According to Mr. Musa, the aggrieved governors are not considering leaving the APC but are seeking alternative political relationships due to concerns over Wike's coalition. They believe that if Wike can mobilize politicians from different parties against their interests while supporting Tinubu at the presidential level, they should also be free to explore other options. The governors' fears are rooted in Wike's claims that President Tinubu had already ceded nine states to his coalition in the governorship and legislative elections.
Wike's Rainbow Coalition, which initially emerged in Rivers State, has expanded to other parts of the country, sparking opposition from APC governors. They describe the coalition as a political arrangement that could undermine the party and its candidates ahead of the 2027 elections. The APC Governors Forum, chaired by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, has rejected the coalition, citing concerns that it could compromise the party's interests.
Mr. Wike has accused the governors of opposing the coalition due to selfish reasons and has criticized their performance in their respective states. He specifically named Governors Uzodimma, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State as opponents of the coalition. The PDP, Wike's party, has backed his continued mobilization for President Tinubu's re-election despite fielding its own presidential candidate, Sandy Onor, for the 2027 election.
The APC national leadership has not publicly taken a position on whether it supports Wike's coalition, leaving observers to wonder how the party will manage the dispute between the minister and the governors. Mr. Musa warned that if President Tinubu and the APC leadership fail to intervene in the coalition dispute, the governors may proceed with the proposed alliance with Atiku Abubakar. This could trigger a serious crisis within the ruling party ahead of the elections.
Mr. Musa referenced the defections of governors from opposition parties to the APC in recent years, citing examples from Bayelsa, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Taraba, Enugu, Adamawa, Kano, and Rivers states. He predicted that politicians aligned with Wike's coalition could defect to the APC after winning governorship and legislative elections in their respective states, given the fluid nature of Nigerian politics.
When contacted, Paul Ibe, Atiku Abubakar's spokesperson, declined comment on the alleged discussions between the aggrieved governors and Atiku. The development has sparked concerns about the potential impact on the APC and the 2027 elections, with many watching to see how the party will manage the internal crisis.
Key points
- Aggrieved APC governors are exploring an alliance with Atiku Abubakar to counter Nyesom Wike's Rainbow Coalition.
- The proposed alliance is aimed at preventing Wike's coalition from undermining the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
- The APC national leadership has not publicly taken a position on whether it supports Wike's coalition, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the party's internal crisis.
