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| Photo Credit: Dauda Lawal, Bola Tinubu & Nyesom Wike |
Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has called on Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike to clearly define his political loyalty, arguing that support for President Bola Tinubu cannot coexist with backing candidates from other parties.
Lawal made the remarks in an interview with Channels Television’s Inside Sources while attending events around the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. He framed the issue as a matter of consistency within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike, who remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been linked to the Rainbow Coalition—a cross-party platform that publicly backs Tinubu’s second-term bid. The Progressive Governors Forum (the body of APC governors) has rejected collaboration with the coalition. Their position is that supporting non-APC candidates in other races risks complicating the ruling party’s electoral strategy and creating divided loyalties.
Lawal, who recently joined the APC, aligned firmly with the governors’ stance. He stated that APC governors remain united and that individuals cannot effectively operate on both sides.
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“Our message is very, very clear, be on one side, you can’t be on two sides. If you are in APC, please come out and support the APC, not you are supporting APC here and you are supporting some other political parties somewhere else,” Lawal said.
He added that the governors would not shift their position regardless of Wike’s public comments: “We maintain our stand and the message is very clear. He can speak, he can say whatever he wants to say, but our position has been very clear, APC all the way from head to toe.”
When asked whether the governors were effectively calling on Wike to formally join the APC, Lawal replied, “Exactly.”
The Zamfara governor said he intends to raise the matter directly with President Tinubu upon the President’s return from his working vacation in France. “It’s something I will discuss with the President when he comes back. Let there be a clear line where this guy belongs. It’s either he is in APC or he is out, simple. So I go with my brothers, the governors,” he said.
Background and context
The disagreement reflects wider tensions. Wike has repeatedly clarified that his support is for Tinubu personally and that the Rainbow Coalition is not an APC structure; it allows politicians from different parties to back the President while fielding their own candidates in state and legislative races. APC governors, led by figures such as Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, view this as potentially undermining party cohesion and the full slate of APC candidates in 2027.
Lawal’s own recent defection from the PDP to the APC adds weight to his comments. He has cited internal PDP crises as a key factor in his decision and has emphasized alignment with the federal government on security and development priorities in Zamfara.
What this means for 2027
The episode highlights the challenges of managing cross-party alliances in Nigerian politics. Tinubu’s re-election effort currently draws support from a broad network, including many governors and influential figures outside the formal APC structure.
How the President navigates the friction between Wike’s approach and the governors’ insistence on exclusive loyalty could shape campaign organization, candidate selection, and messaging in key states.
As of now, no formal response from Wike or the Presidency on Lawal’s specific comments has been widely reported. The discussion is expected to continue as political realignments intensify ahead of the next general elections.
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