Wike Names Three APC Governors Fighting His Coalition

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike has named Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun as the three APC governors he says are opposed to his Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.

The former Rivers State Governor made the disclosure on Monday during an appearance on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout.

Wike said several APC governors had no problem with the Rainbow Coalition, which he has presented as a platform to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election across political parties.

He specifically mentioned Adamawa, Edo, Kogi, Lagos and Akwa Ibom, as well as the governor of Ondo State, as governors who, according to him, were not opposed to the coalition.

“How can a governor leave his state and go to Abuja to complain that Rainbow Coalition is a distraction. Is that a serious governor?” Wike asked.

“Adamawa, Edo, Kogi, Lagos, and Akwa-Ibom state governors do not have a problem with the Rainbow Coalition. I saw Ondo Governor there, and I was shocked.”

He then identified the three governors he said were behind the opposition to his political activities.

“The governors having issues with me are Governor Hope Uzodimma, Governor Abdulrazaq, and Governor Dapo Abiodun,” Wike said.

The comments come amid an escalating disagreement between Wike and the leadership of the APC Governors Forum over the Rainbow Coalition. The forum, chaired by Uzodimma, recently said APC governors would not support political arrangements that could weaken the party or adversely affect its candidates in the 2027 elections.

Uzodimma had said the APC Governors Forum unanimously resolved not to participate in, support or endorse any alliance or political arrangement capable of undermining President Tinubu’s re-election, weakening the APC or affecting any of its candidates.

Wike has repeatedly rejected the argument that his coalition is designed to weaken the APC. He has maintained that its primary objective is to mobilise support for Tinubu’s return to office while allowing politicians from different parties to participate.

“The coalition is a platform for other political parties that are pleased with the good works of Tinubu and are supporting his re-election,” Wike said in an earlier statement.

“It has nothing to do with APC. Rather, it is our own way of mobilising support across political parties for Mr President, who has done well to deserve a second term.”

The minister has also made clear that his support for Tinubu does not mean he will stop supporting candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party in other elections.

“What I said and stand for is that I will mobilise support for the reelection of the President. I never promised anyone that PDP will not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and States House of Assembly elections,” Wike said.

Uzodimma chairs the Progressive Governors Forum, while AbdulRazaq is chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. Wike has previously accused both governors of being behind what he described as false claims about the Rainbow Coalition.

Wike had also questioned why APC governors were concentrating on his coalition instead of focusing on their party’s campaign activities.

Wike, a member of the PDP who currently serves in the APC-led federal government, has maintained that his immediate political priority is supporting Tinubu’s re-election.

He said on Monday that his “primary concern” was whether Tinubu would secure another term in office.

At the same time, the APC Governors Forum has maintained that its members will support APC candidates in the 2027 elections and will not endorse candidates outside the party. Uzodimma said the governors’ campaign commitment would be exclusively to APC candidates at all levels.