The political realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections has taken a fresh turn, with leaders of the All Progressives Congress urging the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to formally join the ruling party if he is committed to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.
The demand followed growing opposition to the Rainbow Coalition associated with the former Rivers State governor, which has continued to mobilise support for Tinubu across political lines while retaining links with the Peoples Democratic Party.
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, said the position of the governors was clear, stressing that political actors backing the President should also identify with the platform under which he would contest the 2027 presidential election.
“Our message is very, very clear: Be on one side. You can’t be in two sides. 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,” Lawal said.
He spoke in an interview with Channels Television’s Inside Sources on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Asked whether the governors were asking Wike to join the ruling party, Lawal replied, “Exactly.”
The governor said the issue was one of political clarity, adding that he intended to discuss the matter with Tinubu.
“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 said.
The minister, however, has consistently maintained that his support for Tinubu’s second-term bid does not mean he has abandoned the PDP or must endorse the ruling party’s candidates in governorship and legislative contests.
His position has been that the coalition provides a broader platform for individuals and groups from different political backgrounds to support the President’s 2027 ambition.
The disagreement has exposed a potential tension between the President’s wider support base and the ruling party’s organisational interests as preparations for the next general elections gather momentum.
The Progressive Governors Forum, the umbrella body of governors elected on the ruling party’s platform, has also distanced itself from the Rainbow Coalition, reaffirming its commitment to the party’s structure and candidates.
With the 2027 contest approaching, attention is now focused on whether the former Rivers governor will retain his membership of the opposition party while supporting Tinubu or eventually align formally with the ruling platform.
The development could have implications for the broader political coalition backing the President as the parties begin positioning themselves for the elections.
