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2027: ‘I’m Answerable to Tinubu Only and Not Politically Lazy Governors’ – Wike Blows Hot
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has hit back at governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing them as “politically lazy” over their opposition to his proposed Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike made the remarks during an appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time on Tuesday night, where he responded to the position of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, against political arrangements it believes could weaken the APC or affect its candidates.
The FCT minister insisted that President Bola Tinubu was aware of his political activities and the Rainbow Coalition, which he said was established to mobilise support for the President’s re-election across political parties.
“There is nothing that I do that I don’t tell Mr President,” Wike said, stressing that he was not answerable to APC governors.
He maintained that supporting Tinubu for president did not mean abandoning the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or preventing other parties from fielding candidates in governorship and legislative elections.
“There’s no day I went to the Governors’ Forum to align between both coalitions. There’s no day,” he said.
Wike cited the 2023 general elections, arguing that voters could support candidates from different political parties in separate elections held on the same day.
He recalled that the five PDP governors known as the G5 had backed Tinubu’s presidential bid in 2023 without entering into an alliance with the APC.
“When the G5 came out to support the president, is there any time we held meetings with their Governors Progressive Forum or with their party?” Wike asked.
The former Rivers State governor also argued that governors could support Tinubu’s re-election while backing candidates of their respective parties in other elections.
He cited governors including Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra, Ademola Adeleke of Osun and Alex Otti of Abia as examples of politicians who could support a presidential candidate while retaining their party affiliations.
Wike further dismissed claims that the Rainbow Coalition was intended to expand his personal political influence, insisting that the initiative was focused on supporting Tinubu.
He said opposition to his political activities did not begin with the coalition, alleging that some APC interests had opposed his appointment as FCT minister.
“This thing did not start today. It started at ministerial position. They were not happy that I was Minister of FCT. Also, they were unhappy when I was governor,” he said.
Wike also challenged the APC governors to focus on their respective political contests instead of opposing his coalition.
“They are politically lazy. When you have your local problems, don’t use Mr President as your excuse,” he said.
The FCT minister further claimed that the political structure being built through the Rainbow Coalition had helped reduce political tensions in Rivers State, saying similar support could emerge in other states.
On the 2027 presidential election, Wike expressed confidence that Tinubu would secure victory in the Federal Capital Territory.
“As I sit here today, I will tell you that the President will win in the FCT,” he said.
The remarks came after the APC Governors Forum said it would not participate in, support or endorse any political arrangement capable of undermining Tinubu’s re-election, weakening the APC or adversely affecting its candidates at any level.