₦airaland Forum

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has asked Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to clarify his political allegiance ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said he (Wike) cannot simultaneously support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election and back candidates of other parties.


Lawal said the position of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors on Wike’s Rainbow Coalition remained unchanged, despite the minister’s continued defence of the cross-party platform.

The governor’s comments add another phase to the disagreement between Wike and several APC governors over the political implications of the Rainbow Coalition.


Wike has maintained that supporting Tinubu does not require members of the coalition to abandon their respective parties or surrender their freedom to contest other positions against APC candidates.

[i]The minister had earlier said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should remain free to field candidates for governorship, National Assembly and state House of Assembly elections, even as members of the coalition mobilise support for Tinubu at the presidential level.[/i]

He has also rejected suggestions that the Rainbow Coalition is an APC project.

That position has brought the minister into disagreement with APC governors.

They have subsequently called for stronger coordination to support the president and the party’s candidates at other levels.

Wike, while defending the coalition, had also questioned the criticism from APC governors.

He said referenced the role played by the G5 governors in the 2023 presidential election that Tinubu won.

The former Rivers governor has since emerged as one of the prominent political figures outside the APC openly backing Tinubu’s re-election.

He has done this while retaining his links with the PDP and advocating a broader coalition structure.

But speaking in an interview with Inside Sources on Channels Television, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Governor demanded consistency from Wike for Tinubu.

According to him, supporting Tinubu for the presidency while allowing other parties to challenge APC candidates in governorship and legislative elections was inconsistent with the expectations of members of the ruling party.

“Our message is very, very clear: Be on one side. You can’t be in two sides,” Lawal said.

The governor said Wike should either openly support the APC across the board or reconsider his continued association with the Rainbow Coalition.

“If you’re in APC, please come out and support APC. Not you’re supporting APC here and you’re supporting other political parties somewhere else. It doesn’t make sense. It’s not done anywhere,” he said.

When asked directly whether the APC governors wanted Wike to join the ruling party, Lawal replied: “Exactly. What’s the essence?”

He further disclosed that he intended to raise the matter with Tinubu.

The Governor argued that Wike’s political position should be clearly defined before the 2027 electoral contest gathers further momentum.

“It’s something that I will take up with the President when he comes back. So, let there be a very, very clear line where this guy belongs to. It’s either he’s in APC or he’s out. It’s simple. And I go with my brothers, the governors,” Lawal said.

On Wike’s recent description of some APC governors as lazy, Lawal dismissed the remark and challenging anyone to assess his administration’s record in Zamfara.

“Well, I mean, he knows the people he’s referring to, honestly. As for me, I mean, you can’t say that in Zamfara State,” he said.

“The difference is very, very clear. I invite anybody to come and see what we’re doing in Zamfara State,” the governor added.

Exousiang01:
Wike has become more powerful than most APC governors now they are afraid.
He now has a hold on both FCT and Rivers.
He has high chances of winning FCT and Rivers for Jagaban something no APC governor can do.
Many APC governors are even struggling to keep their states.
I very much understand their fears....

Uzodima should put his house in order.
You cannot be hustling to be senate president when you are still a governor.
It's unfortunate you have an off season election.
But you no get choice.
Finish your term as governor

Happening Now📍📍

This is the PDP Governorship Campaign flag off.

RAINBOW COALITION is very much active in Nasarawa State under the leadership of Chief Nyesom Wike @GovWike https://t.co/QUut5jAIzC pic.twitter.com/DzSO3cUkz4

— Edward Emmanuel O. (@Eddyballer1) September 26, 2026

jasonkid007:
Wike go deliver fct and rivers to Peter obi

tuoyoojo:
Tulumbu is in a catch 22 situation here

onatisi:
tinbu will have to find a middle ground of compromise for the apc governors and wike . and wike overbearing attitud as if he is the only one who knows it all maybe a problem . well lets keep watching

Wickedfacts:
Can this Zamfara Governor guarantee Tinubu winning his state with a margin of 70%?

As at when Wike was delivering for Tinubu in 2023, this boy was busy giving Atiku votes and reducing Tinubu's chances.

AMINDA:
Tinubu has already secured a middle ground but it was for his own re-election. He has both parties supporting him so why should he care?

stanluiz:
Did Tinubu deliver Lagos for himself in 2023 presidential election

Wickedfacts:
No.
They are both fighting over who will support Tinubu more.

That Adeleke experience threw many of the Governors who felt like demigods off-balance.

stanluiz:
If that is so, that means tinubu is selfish.

The governors should just focus on their reelection because Win or lose, tinubu will still throw them under the bus. The signs are there.

If wike can deliver the 36 states for Tinubu, then good luck to him.

SonOfWords:
Na greed go fall Wike finally.

Let it be known that I'm the first in my lineage to have predicted it📌.

Thundafireseun:
Emperor Wike has never lost any battle...

He fought all PDP governors and won ...

APC governors starting from Hope is a walk in the park

Wickedfacts:
Peter Obi ko, Paul Orogbo ni.

Peter Obi personally went to beg Wike in 2022, Wike no even look him side.