State chairmen of the All Progressives Congress are divided over the prospect of working with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as President Bola Tinubu moves to resolve the disagreement between the minister and party leaders ahead of the 2027 elections.
While some chairmen in 14 states said they would work with Wike if he formally joined the APC or if the party’s national leadership reached an agreement with him, others insisted that the Rainbow Coalition being promoted by the minister had no place in their domains.
The differing positions followed disagreement over Wike’s continued membership of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party while serving in the APC-led Federal Government.
His promotion of the Rainbow Coalition, a cross-party platform he said was aimed at mobilising support for President Tinubu’s re-election, also pitched him against APC governors.
Wike has maintained that his support for Tinubu does not prevent the PDP from fielding candidates in governorship and legislative elections.
His position has, however, faced resistance from party leaders who stated they would not support political arrangements capable of weakening the ruling party or its candidates in the 2027 general elections.
In Plateau State, APC Chairman Rufus Bature said the party was ready to work with anybody in the APC, including Wike, if peace was brokered.
He, however, insisted that the minister could not simultaneously identify with two rival political parties.
“If he wants to join the APC, he is free to do that because we don’t stop people from joining our party. But he cannot be APC in the morning and PDP in the night. We won’t allow that,” Bature said.
In Jigawa State, however, the APC welcomed Wike’s support for Tinubu.
The Jigawa APC Publicity Secretary, Bashir Kundu, said the party appreciated the minister’s contribution to Tinubu’s 2027 campaign and was ready to work with anyone supporting the President.
Similarly, Gombe State APC Chairman, Mohammed Dantata, said anyone willing to join the party would be welcomed, while Zamfara State APC Chairman, Kabiru Moyi, stated that he would abide by whatever decision was reached by the party’s national secretariat.
“If the National Secretariat of our great party is ready to align with him for the success of the party, I have nothing to say but to accept the decision,” Moyi said.
In Bauchi State, the APC Chairman Muhammad Tilde took a more cautious stance, stating that he could not independently decide whether the state chapter would work with Wike even if the President succeeded in brokering peace.
