Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has disclosed that governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) plan to address the political status of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike with President Bola Tinubu when the president returns from France. Lawal made this known on Thursday, September 24, 2026, during an interview with Channels Television's Inside Sources on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA.
Lawal Demands Clear Party Line for Wike
Governor Lawal stressed the need for clarity regarding Wike's political allegiance, stating that the FCT Minister cannot remain ambiguous about his party membership. He said: "It's something I will discuss with the president when he comes back. Let there be a clear line where this guy (Wike) belongs to. It's either he is in APC or he is out, simple. So I go with my brothers, the governors."
Wike, who remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has consistently expressed support for President Tinubu's re-election bid while maintaining that his loyalty at other levels of government lies with the PDP. The minister has argued that his Rainbow Coalition does not threaten existing political parties, and his backing for Tinubu is limited to the presidential race, allowing PDP candidates to contest governorship and legislative positions.
APC Chairman in Imo Urges Wike to Join Party
Austin Onyedebelu, the APC chairman in Imo State, has also called on Wike to formally join the party. Onyedebelu made this appeal during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday, September 24. He argued that if Wike genuinely wants to secure President Tinubu's re-election in 2027, he should join the president's party.
Onyedebelu said: "There is no provision in the Electoral Act that says one can be a member of two political parties at the same time. If Wike wants to work for Mr President, he should join his train. You cannot be at the end of two roads and say you are heading east."
Tinubu Plans Defined Campaign Role for Wike
Earlier reports indicated that President Tinubu is working to carve out a defined campaign role for Wike ahead of the 2027 elections. Sources familiar with the developing structure said the former Rivers governor is being positioned to coordinate campaign efforts in Rivers State and the FCT. The arrangement is designed to leverage Wike's political network while keeping him outside the formal APC structure, given his PDP membership.
The development comes amid rising tensions between Wike and some APC governors, as well as ongoing political friction in Rivers State between Wike's supporters and those of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The APC governors' planned discussion with President Tinubu is expected to clarify Wike's role and party allegiance as the 2027 election cycle approaches.
