A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Aliyu Farouk, has said President Bola Tinubu may not be pleased with the recent remarks by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, against some governors elected on the ruling party’s platform.
Farouk made the comment while responding to questions during an appearance on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Thursday, September 17.
Wike had criticised some APC governors, describing them as “politically lazy”, while defending his Rainbow Coalition, an initiative he said was designed to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
The minister’s remarks followed the rejection by the APC Governors’ Forum, chaired by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, of any political alliance that could weaken the ruling party or undermine Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
Farouk said the APC was instead focused on building a coordinated campaign structure that would operate at both national and state levels, with governors playing leading roles in their respective states.
According to him, while Wike remained free to express his political views, the APC would not welcome comments attacking its governors.
“We do not want any situation where it becomes vote for APC, vote for PDP, or vote for any other party.
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“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 cast doubt on Wike’s assertion that he had discussed his political activities with Tinubu or reached an understanding with the President 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 subsequently appealed to members of the party to avoid engaging the FCT minister in public exchanges over the disagreement.
“I call on my, you know, party members not to join issues with them,” Farouk said.
Wike has continued to maintain that his Rainbow Coalition is focused on securing support for Tinubu in the presidential election, while allowing opposition parties to contest against APC candidates in governorship and legislative elections.