The All Progressives Congress (APC) has moved to calm tensions between some of its governors and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, saying the disagreement will be resolved through dialogue and mutual respect.
The APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, said the ruling party remained committed to protecting its unity, respecting the political rights of members and strengthening its structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Yilwatda made the position known in an interview with Leadership through his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, in Abuja.
APC Governors Reject Political Arrangements Seen As Threat
The disagreement involving Wike and some APC governors followed the rejection by the Progressive Governors’ Forum of political arrangements they believe could undermine the party or its candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
The governors, led by Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, have maintained that they will support only candidates officially sponsored by the APC.
In a communique read by Uzodimma, the governors said they would not participate in or endorse any political arrangement capable of weakening the APC or affecting its candidates at any level.
The governors also stated that they had no intention of supporting candidates who were not contesting under the APC platform.
Wike Defends Support For Tinubu
Wike, who remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has repeatedly maintained that his support for President Bola Tinubu does not amount to abandoning the PDP.
The FCT Minister has also argued that supporting Tinubu at the presidential level does not mean he is required to support APC candidates in governorship and legislative elections.
Wike has rejected claims that the Rainbow Coalition was established to weaken the APC, insisting that its primary objective was to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election.
“There was never a day I went to the Governors’ Forum to align with the APC coalition,” Wike said.
He further argued that political parties remain free to field their own candidates while politicians can support Tinubu’s presidential bid.
APC Chairman Calls For Dialogue
Against the backdrop of the growing exchange between Wike and APC governors, Yilwatda urged stakeholders not to allow the disagreement to develop into a crisis within the ruling party.
According to him, the differences should be viewed as competing political perspectives that can be managed through dialogue, diplomacy and mutual respect.
Yilwatda said Wike had made his position on the Rainbow Coalition clear, just as APC governors had publicly declared their support for Tinubu and the party’s candidates.
“For us in the APC, the priority is to maintain party unity, respect the democratic rights of all political actors and remain focused on the 2027 elections,” he said.
The APC chairman added that the party’s doors remained open to constructive engagement while stressing that the party would continue strengthening its structures and working with stakeholders committed to national development.
He also cautioned against personalising the disagreement or escalating the rhetoric.
“Political differences are normal in a democracy, and we believe they should be managed through dialogue, maturity and respect for the institutions and processes of the various political parties,” Yilwatda said.
