The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed reports of a rift between its governors and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, with spokesperson Felix Morka describing the perceived tensions as a "false battle" during a Tuesday interview on Arise Television's News Day programme.
Morka's comments came after Wike publicly named three APC governors he claimed were opposing him over the Rainbow Coalition, and following the release of President Bola Tinubu's presidential campaign council list for the 2027 general elections, which includes Wike.
Morka: No Real Tension Between Wike and APC Governors
Speaking on Tuesday, Morka said the reported disagreement between APC governors and Wike was essentially non-existent, pointing to their shared commitment to Tinubu's re-election. "It was a false battle to begin with. I mean, I don't think there was any real tension between those positions because they united in their extraordinary commitment to the re-election of the president," Morka said.
He explained that the Progressive Governors Forum consists of governors elected under the APC platform, while Wike, a former Rivers State governor, serves in Tinubu's cabinet and has been a consistent public supporter of the President. Given this common political ground, Morka said reports of any meaningful disagreement carried little weight.
Campaign Council List Clears the Air
Morka stated that the release of the presidential campaign council list helped resolve any lingering questions about who was aligned with Tinubu's re-election drive and in what capacity. He also highlighted a significant development: governors from outside the APC appearing on the campaign council and taking active coordinating roles in their states.
"Governors, who are not of the APC, now [are] front and centre, coordinating some of our activities in their respective jurisdictions," Morka said. He framed this cross-party participation as something new in Nigerian politics, arguing that it demonstrated Tinubu's ability to bring politicians together beyond traditional party boundaries.
Morka Describes New Phase in Nigerian Democracy
"What we're witnessing today in our country is novel. It's really a new dawn for democracy," Morka said, adding that such collaboration was uncommon in a presidential system where parties typically compete rather than cooperate. He argued that Tinubu was actively working to bridge political divides, building what he described as a broad coalition of support across party lines.
"We're seeing a president who is transcending all of the divides and really nullifying what I call the politics of difference between these partisans and bringing them together under the same umbrella to pursue a common agenda for the good of the people," Morka said.
APC Names Wike, Others in Revised 2027 Campaign List
Meanwhile, the APC released a revised Presidential Campaign Council list for the 2027 general election on Tuesday, with Tinubu heading the council. The list includes prominent opposition figures-turned-APC allies such as FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Delta Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke. Senator Abdulaziz Yari was named Director-General, while Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma will serve as secretary of the council.
