Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has publicly challenged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to clearly define his political allegiance ahead of the 2027 general elections. Lawal insisted that Wike must either officially join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or quit the Rainbow Coalition. The governor made these statements during an interview on Channels Television’s Inside Sources, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The ongoing political dispute centers on Wike’s association with the Rainbow Coalition, a cross-party platform. Wike, a prominent chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has reportedly been using this coalition to mobilize grassroots support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid. However, Wike maintains that his support for Tinubu at the presidential level does not equate to a blanket endorsement of APC candidates in other electoral contests.
The Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), the influential umbrella body of APC governors, strongly opposes Wike’s arrangement. The governors argue that a cross-party coalition could undermine the APC’s political structure and weaken its candidates in crucial governorship and legislative races. Governor Lawal stated that despite Wike’s defense of the coalition, the APC governors’ position remains unchanged.
Lawal emphasized that Wike must choose between supporting the APC or other parties. “Our message is very, very clear: Be on one side. You can’t be on two sides,” Lawal declared. “If you’re in APC, please come out and support APC. Not you’re supporting APC here and you’re supporting other political parties somewhere else. It doesn’t make sense. It’s not done anywhere”.
When asked if the governors were demanding that Wike join the APC, Lawal replied, “Exactly. What’s the essence?” He added that the governors remain committed to their party’s objectives and expect absolute loyalty from those claiming to support the President’s re-election campaign. Lawal emphasized that the message is clear: “APC all the way from head to toe”.
Lawal plans to take the matter to the highest level, discussing it with President Tinubu upon his return. “It’s something that I will take up with the President when he comes back. Let there be a very, very clear line where this guy belongs to. It’s either he’s in APC or he’s out. It’s simple. And I go with my brothers, the governors,” he stated.
Lawal also addressed Wike’s recent remarks describing some APC governors as “lazy”. Lawal brushed off the criticism, suggesting that Wike knew exactly who he was referring to, but stated that such a description does not apply to Zamfara State. “Well, I mean, he knows the people he’s referring to, honestly,” Lawal responded. “As for me, I mean, you can’t say that in Zamfara State. The difference is very, very clear. I invite anybody to come and see what we’re doing in Zamfara State”.
Key points
- Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, challenges FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to define his political allegiance ahead of 2027 elections.
- Lawal insists Wike must choose between supporting the APC or other parties.
- The Progressives Governors Forum opposes Wike’s cross-party coalition, citing potential damage to the APC’s political structure.
