The political war of words over the 2027 election has taken another turn, with Ima Niboro, spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council, telling FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and APC governors to stop the public exchanges and get back to grassroots mobilisation.
Niboro made the call on Wednesday while appearing on Arise Television’s The Morning Show, describing the disagreement between Wike and the governors as a “quarrel among siblings.”
His comments came after Wike described APC governors as “politically lazy” following their rejection of his proposed cross-party coalition aimed at mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.
The Chairman of the APC Progressive Governors’ Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, had earlier declared that APC governors would not back any political arrangement they believed could undermine the party or Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Uzodimma maintained that the governors remained committed to supporting APC candidates at all levels.
Wike, however, questioned the political records of the governors, particularly Uzodimma’s ability to secure support for Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election. He also maintained that his priority ahead of 2027 was to mobilise support for Tinubu without interfering in state-level contests.
Reacting to the escalating exchanges, Niboro urged the political actors to move beyond television appearances and public rhetoric, insisting that their energy should be directed towards strengthening their structures and winning support from the people.
“When I said tone down the rhetoric, I do not mean stop working. Stop talking, go and work,” he said.
He challenged the politicians to take their campaigns directly to the grassroots instead of engaging in prolonged public disagreements.
“All this shouting is not taking anybody anywhere. Go and work. Go and establish your authority on your political base,” he said.
Niboro further urged political leaders to leave the comfort of television studios and connect directly with voters in their communities.
“Get on the TV cameras. Go to the people. Go to the streets. Go to the marketplaces. Go and win the people.”
He added: “Stop all this high-sounding grammar that they are blowing everywhere is not leading anybody anywhere. Go and work.”
Niboro stressed that his position was not that either side should surrender its political territory, but that political leaders should demonstrate their influence through genuine grassroots mobilisation.
“If you’re a political leader, stop talking. Go and work. That is my point,” he said.
