President Bola Tinubu is expected to intervene in the growing disagreement between Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A senior presidential aide familiar with the development disclosed that Tinubu may engage both sides in an effort to resolve their differences and prevent the dispute from affecting political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development comes as tensions rise over Wike’s political activities and his support for Tinubu’s re-election while retaining his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Wike has been promoting a “Rainbow Coalition”, which he says is intended to mobilise support for Tinubu’s presidential bid while allowing political parties to field their own candidates in governorship and legislative elections.
The APC Progressive Governors’ Forum, however, has rejected political arrangements that it believes could weaken the party or affect its candidates during the 2027 elections.
Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, said APC governors would support the party’s candidates at all levels and would not participate in an arrangement that could undermine the party.
Wike Fires Back
Wike has rejected the governors’ position, insisting that he never approached the APC Governors’ Forum to seek an alliance.
The FCT minister also defended his political activities, arguing that supporting Tinubu for president does not require him to support APC candidates in every governorship or legislative contest.
He has maintained that the Rainbow Coalition is a separate platform focused on securing support for Tinubu’s 2027 presidential bid.
The disagreement intensified after Wike described some APC governors as “politically lazy” for opposing his approach. The comments drew criticism from APC figures, including Farouk Adamu-Aliyu, who urged the President to intervene.
Why Tinubu May Intervene
According to the presidential aide cited by The PUNCH, Tinubu is expected to speak with the minister and the governors to broker a truce and ensure that the different political interests do not work against one another ahead of 2027.
The aide said the intervention could take place in France, where Tinubu is currently on vacation, before the end of the week.
The disagreement has also attracted attention within the APC, with some party leaders warning that continued public exchanges could distract the party from its preparations for the 2027 elections.
Meanwhile, APC leaders in the South-East have publicly backed Uzodimma and the Progressive Governors’ Forum, while Wike has continued to defend his coalition and his support for Tinubu.
For now, it remains unclear what form Tinubu’s intervention will take, but the expected engagement would bring the President directly into a political dispute involving one of his ministers and senior figures within his party.
