Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) seem to be tired of hiding their dislike for the activities of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, who claims to be the leader of the People Democratic Party (PDP), but is supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The first salvo was fired yesterday by the state coordinators of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA), who cautioned him against political arrangements that could weaken the party’s commitment to Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.

That was followed by another by APC chieftain, Farouk Aliyu, who said that Wike’s description of the progressive governors as politically lazy was in bad taste.

As if those were not enough, the APC leadership in the South-East rejected Wike’s “rainbow coalition” in the region, declaring its support for the progressive governors and candidates.

But a breather came from an APC federal lawmaker, Abdulmumin Jibrin, who declared that the FCT minister remained an asset to the ruling party and should not be subjected to public embarrassment.

The RHS coordinators, in a statement signed by representatives from different geopolitical zones, said they welcomed support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid from Nigerians across political divides, but warned that such support should not undermine the APC, its candidates or existing party structures.

They expressed support for the Progressive Governors Forum’s (PGF) position, saying APC governors had made their commitment clear to Tinubu and the party’s candidates at all levels.

The group raised concerns over the emerging Rainbow Coalition, noting that while different support groups could mobilise for the President, parallel political structures should not create confusion or compete with existing APC grassroots organisations.

“Wike is entitled to mobilise support for President Tinubu. He has made it clear that the coalition is separate from the APC and is intended to mobilise support for the President across political parties.

“But if that mobilisation begins to work against APC candidates or creates competing centres of political authority in states and local communities, then it is reasonable for APC leaders and governors to draw a clear line.”

The statement was signed by Henry Ikoh (Abia), Zachary Madiyi (Adamawa), Ikim (Akwa Ibom), Amb. Tarzoor Terhemen (Benue), Olajide Awe (Ekiti), Musa Mohammed (Jigawa), among others.

ALIYU, who said all members of the party reject Wike’s statement while reacting to the conflict between the FCT minister and the progressive governors, on Arise TV interview yesterday, disclosed that the meeting that held a few days ago had the party national chairman and other party leaders in attendance; hence, it was not just the governors that were speaking but the party.

He explained that while the party welcomes anybody, including Wike, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun and all other governors in other parties that are willing to help the APC, the party wants a unified APC campaign structure, which is being set up at the national level and across the state as well, to be led by the governors.

“We cannot stop Wike from speaking the way he does or whatever he wants; but as a party, we resent that kind of comment. We are not happy with the way he addressed our governors, and I believe the President will not be happy, too,” Aliyu said.

THE South-East APC leaders also endorsed the position of the PGF that all APC candidates should receive the support of the party, from the presidency to the Houses of Assembly, in the forthcoming elections.

The position was contained in a joint statement signed by the APC National Vice Chairman, South-East, Dr Ijeomah Arodiogbu, and the party chairmen in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states.

The leaders said the PGF’s call for comprehensive support for APC candidates was necessary to secure the party’s victory at all levels in 2027.

They condemned recent attacks by Wike on members of the PGF, describing his remarks as “most unfortunate, reprehensible and completely unacceptable.”

According to the South-East APC leaders, Wike’s criticisms were directed at governors who had delivered significant development in their respective states and secured more than 25 per cent of the presidential votes in their states during the 2023 election.

“Progressive governors are not abstract politicians; they are performing leaders whose records speak for themselves,” they said.

The leaders, therefore, called on the FCT Minister to withdraw his attacks on the governors and return to what they described as “party discipline, mutual respect and collective responsibility.”

They also warned against attempts by political groups to weaken the APC’s structures in the South-East ahead of the 2027 elections.

Rejecting what they called the “rainbow (chameleon) coalition”, the APC leaders said the party would resist any move aimed at undermining its organisation or candidates in the region.

JIBRIN, while featuring on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Wednesday night, defended Wike amid criticisms from some APC governors over his continued membership of the PDP and his support for Tinubu’s second-term bid.

He added that no member of the ruling party could claim not to have benefited from Wike’s efforts in delivering Tinubu as Nigeria’s President.

The Kano lawmaker said Wike’s contributions to the APC-led administration and Tinubu’s political project should be recognised rather than attacked publicly.

“Wike is an asset to the APC. I don’t think Wike should be embarrassed at this moment with public statements,” he said.

He urged APC governors who have disagreements with Wike to engage him privately rather than criticising him publicly.