The All Progressives Congress (APC) Grassroots Organisation has cautioned Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, against using his support for President Bola Tinubu's 2027 re-election bid to undermine the ruling party's structures and interests. In a statement signed by its chairman, Mukhtar Tanimu Rabiu, the stakeholders warned that Wike's proposed "Rainbow Coalition" must not operate as a parallel political structure capable of weakening the APC or creating conflicts with the party's elected governors, candidates, and organs.
The APC Grassroots Organisation alleged that Wike had polarised PDP governors, influenced the party's leadership, and attacked major organs of the party during his time in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The group claimed that a similar pattern was now being repeated within the APC, as Wike intensified his criticism of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF). The stakeholders expressed concern that while APC governors had rejected attempts to divide them, the party's National Working Committee (NWC) had remained silent on the issue.
The group welcomed Wike's support for President Tinubu but emphasised that it should not confer on him the authority to establish an alternative structure to the APC. The stakeholders argued that Wike could inadvertently undermine the President's 2027 campaign by introducing a competing structure into an election where APC governors and other party officials are expected to mobilise support for Tinubu and other APC candidates.
The APC Grassroots Organisation disputed claims that Wike's former PDP G-5 alliance constituted an indispensable electoral machine for Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election. The group noted that three members of the G-5—former Enugu Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, former Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, and former Benue Governor Samuel Ortom—lost their senatorial elections in 2023. Only Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde successfully retained his elective position but eventually broke ranks with Wike.
The stakeholders questioned Wike's claim to significant grassroots electoral influence, citing poor performance by some former G-5 governors in their respective constituencies during the 2023 elections. They also made claims concerning the 2023 presidential election in Rivers State and Wike's local government, while questioning the minister's "self-acclaimed street credibility."
The organisation urged the APC leadership to protect the party's structures and ensure that competing political interests do not create confusion among governors, candidates, and grassroots party members ahead of the 2027 elections. The group pointed to the APC's control of 31 of the 36 states, arguing that the ruling party already possesses an extensive network of governors and state structures through which Tinubu's 2027 campaign can be organised.
The APC Grassroots Organisation reiterated that Wike's support for Tinubu remained welcome but insisted that such support should strengthen, rather than weaken, the APC's established political structures. The group also questioned Wike's reported intervention in the choice of the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, citing his support for Kingsley Chinda, and asked why Wike did not field Chinda as a PDP candidate if he had faith in his Rainbow Coalition.
Key points
- The APC Grassroots Organisation warns that Wike's Rainbow Coalition may undermine the party's structures and interests.
- Wike's support for President Tinubu should not weaken the APC's established political structures.
- The APC already possesses an extensive network of governors and state structures to organise Tinubu's 2027 campaign.
