An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Aliyu Farouk, has said President Bola Tinubu may not be pleased with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over his recent criticism of governors elected on the platform of the ruling party.
Farouk made the statement on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Thursday while reacting to the disagreement between Wike and the APC Governors’ Forum over political arrangements ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike had described some APC governors as “politically lazy” while defending his Rainbow Coalition, which he said was established to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
His comments followed the rejection by the APC Governors’ Forum, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, of any political alliance capable of weakening the ruling party or undermining Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Speaking on the development, Farouk said the APC was working towards a unified campaign structure across the country, with governors expected to coordinate the party’s campaign activities in their respective states.
He said the party would not stop Wike from expressing his political views but took exception to his remarks about APC governors.
“We do not want any situation where it becomes vote for APC, vote for PDP, or vote for any other party.
“As far as we are concerned, we want a unified APC campaign structure, which is exactly what we are setting up at the national level and across the states as well, and the governors are going to be in charge of the states.
“You know, so we cannot stop Wike from speaking the way he does or saying whatever he wants. But as a party, we resent that kind of comment.
“We are not happy with the way he called our governors, and I’m sure Mr President will not be happy either,” he said.
Farouk also questioned Wike’s claim that he had held discussions with Tinubu or reached an arrangement with the President regarding his political activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
“And if he said he had meetings or an arrangement with Mr President, well, we in the APC are not privy to that. I’m sure he’s not privy to what we are also discussing with Mr President,” he added.
The APC chieftain urged members of the ruling party to avoid engaging Wike in public exchanges over the disagreement.
“I call on my, you know, party members not to join issues with them,” Farouk said.
Wike has maintained that his Rainbow Coalition is focused on supporting Tinubu at the presidential level while allowing opposition parties to field candidates against APC candidates in governorship and legislative elections.
