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The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the growing disagreement between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and APC governors over the proposed Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
The PCC spokesman, Ima Niboro, said the dispute was an internal disagreement among political allies and expressed confidence that it would be resolved through discussions.
The disagreement centres on Wike’s cross-party political initiative, the Rainbow Coalition, which APC governors have opposed amid concerns that it could affect APC candidates in state-level elections and the party’s wider electoral plans.
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State and prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has defended his decision to support Tinubu while maintaining political activities outside the APC.
Speaking on Arise TV on Tuesday, Wike criticised some APC governors who opposed his initiative, describing them as “politically lazy” and arguing that his support for Tinubu did not require him to abandon his political party or prevent other parties from fielding candidates.
He said the disagreements over his political activities predated his appointment as FCT Minister, adding that he had faced similar opposition while serving as Rivers governor.
Reacting to the development, Niboro described the disagreement as “a quarrel among political siblings,” saying both sides shared the objective of supporting Tinubu’s return in 2027 despite differences over political strategy.
He urged political leaders involved in the dispute to reduce public exchanges and concentrate on strengthening their grassroots structures.
According to him, the disagreement has extended to state and local government levels, making presidential intervention necessary to help manage the competing interests.
Niboro also expressed confidence in Tinubu’s political experience, saying the President had the capacity to reconcile the different interests within the emerging coalition.
Meanwhile, APC chieftain Joe Igbokwe urged Wike to meet with the party’s governors and explain the objectives of the proposed Rainbow Coalition.
Igbokwe described Wike as an important political stakeholder with followers and influence but said the minister should consult with APC governors and address their concerns through dialogue.
He said the disagreement should be resolved through discussions rather than public exchanges.
Former Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu, however, urged Tinubu to be cautious about calls from some APC governors to distance himself from Wike.
Okechukwu argued that the disagreement should have been handled through the party’s internal structures rather than public statements.
He maintained that Wike remained an important political ally and urged Tinubu to sustain a broad political coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
The controversy comes as political parties and alliances intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with competing interests emerging over presidential and state-level contests.
