A member of the House of Representatives, Abdulmumini Jibrin Kofa, has stated that the All Progressives Congress (APC) needs former Rivers Governor and minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, more than he needs the party. Kofa made this remark in an interview with Arise TV on Monday while discussing Wike’s political relevance and his relationship with the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to Kofa, Wike would remain politically influential even outside government and would attract political interest if he decided to leave the APC. He noted that if Wike pulls out of APC, he’ll be in high demand all over the country. Kofa emphasized that the APC should recognize Wike’s political value and engage him through dialogue rather than confrontation.
Kofa argued that Wike’s political relevance was not dependent on holding public office, comparing him with President Bola Tinubu. He stated that both Wike and Tinubu have unique qualities that make them politically relevant regardless of their position in government. Kofa added that Tinubu had similarly maintained political relevance after spending years outside elective office.
The lawmaker cited President Tinubu’s 16-17 years out of office, during which his relevance remained intact, as an example. He also noted that President Tinubu’s decision to engage Wike and bring him into his administration had helped strengthen the APC politically. According to Kofa, if President Tinubu hadn’t negotiated with Wike, there would have been a rebellion coalition against APC.
Kofa urged APC governors to adopt a more pragmatic approach in dealing with Wike, saying the political circumstances in the affected states were not the same. He advised them to approach the situation in a pragmatic manner, taking into account the peculiarities of each state. Kofa criticized the governors’ decision to use a press conference to publicly confront Wike, arguing that dialogue would have been more appropriate.
The lawmaker stressed that his position was not based on a close personal relationship with Wike, saying he had only met the former governor twice. Kofa emphasized that his comments were based on his assessment of Wike’s political relevance and the needs of the APC. He urged the party to engage Wike in dialogue to harness his political value.
Kofa’s comments come as Wike’s relationship with the APC has been under scrutiny ahead of the 2027 elections. His influence in the party and his potential impact on the party’s fortunes have been topics of discussion among politicians and analysts. Kofa’s remarks suggest that the APC needs to carefully manage its relationship with Wike to maximize its benefits.
Key points
- The APC needs Wike more than he needs the party, according to Abdulmumini Jibrin Kofa.
- Wike's political relevance is not dependent on holding public office.
- Kofa urges APC governors to adopt a pragmatic approach in dealing with Wike.
