Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, yesterday described governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as “politically lazy” for opposing the proposed Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Wike, who spoke on Arise TV’s Prime Time, dismissed the position of the APC Governors’ Forum that it would not support any political alliance capable of undermining President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid or the electoral interests of APC candidates.

He argued that his support for Tinubu did not amount to abandoning the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), insisting that backing a presidential candidate should not prevent political parties from fielding candidates at other levels.

“They are politically lazy. When you have your local problems, don’t use Mr President as your excuse,” Wike said.

The former Rivers State governor said opposition to his political activities was not new, recalling that some interests had resisted his appointment as FCT minister and his tenure as governor.

“This thing did not start today. It started at a ministerial position. They were not happy that I was Minister of FCT. Also, they were unhappy when I was governor,” he said.

Wike also suggested that his critics did not have access to all the information informing his decisions.

“If they know what I know, they would not come out to shout,” he said.

Reiterating his support for Tinubu, Wike said: “I have said I will support the President and I am still supporting him. What has that got to do with my party?”

He challenged the argument that support for Tinubu must translate into support for APC candidates in other elections, citing the cases of Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and Abia State Governor Alex Otti.

“Take Soludo, Adeleke and Otti. Does it mean that their parties will not present other candidates? This thing they are saying does not have any basis,” Wike said.

The APC Governors’ Forum, chaired by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, had rejected alliances it considered capable of undermining Tinubu’s re-election bid or the interests of APC candidates.

Wike maintained that his position was consistent with his decision in 2023 to support Tinubu while serving as a PDP governor.

He said his decision was informed by his belief that the presidency should remain in the South after former President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year administration.

“Recall that in 2023, as far as the President is concerned, it is my belief that it was the time of the South and so it would be unfair that it goes back to the North,” he said.