A sitting North-West governor has confirmed that the rift between President Bola Tinubu and APC governors is real and widening, citing three specific grievances that are undermining party unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Governor Confirms Deepening Divisions in APC
The governor, who is seeking a second term, told The Guardian that efforts to project unity between the Presidency and the Progressive Governors' Forum (PGF) mask serious unresolved disagreements. His comments follow Vice President Kashim Shettima's recent remark that fewer than five northern governors were openly backing Tinubu's re-election bid.
Although Shettima's media office later clarified that he was referring to the period before the 2022 APC presidential primary, the North-West governor insisted that the Vice President's words accurately describe the current mood within the PGF.
Three Grievances Driving the Split
According to The Guardian, the governor identified three major issues fueling the divided loyalty among his northern colleagues.
El-Rufai's Treatment Sends Troubling Message
The first issue is the treatment of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, who actively campaigned for Tinubu's election but has since faced political difficulties. The governor said watching el-Rufai's troubles has sent a troubling message to other northern APC governors about the rewards of loyalty to the President.
Finance Ministry Directive on LGA Funds
The second grievance involves Tinubu's instruction to the Federal Ministry of Finance to publish details of fund disbursements to states. Many northern governors see this as a direct move against them, particularly regarding how local government council funds are managed. The public disclosure requirement is viewed as a form of pressure rather than routine transparency.
Wike and the Rainbow Coalition
The third and most damaging factor, according to the governor, is Tinubu's open support for FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and his Rainbow Coalition. The governor described this as the final blow to an already fragile relationship between the PGF and the Presidency, saying it has confirmed fears that the President is building alternative political alliances outside the party structure.
Presidential Rebuke Further Sours Mood
The governor also pointed to Tinubu's reaction upon returning from a recent foreign trip, during which the President expressed frustration that governors were not doing enough to communicate his administration's achievements to their constituents. That rebuke further soured the mood among his colleagues.
Legit.ng has previously reported on growing friction within the APC ahead of the 2027 elections, including tensions over the party's presidential primary process and the alignment of key political figures.
Wike's Response to APC Governors
In related developments, Wike addressed tensions between himself and APC governors ahead of the 2027 election. Wike, a PDP chieftain and former governor of Rivers, alleged that the APC governors' grievances against him began when he was appointed Minister of the FCT. He also linked the APC governors to the crisis between him and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
