Tinubu’s absence keeps APC guessing as Wike-PGF squabble slows down campaigns

By Jude Opara

As President Bola Tinubu continues with his holidays in Europe, the National  Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) appears to be in a state of confusion following the recent face-off between members of the APC Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) led by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo state, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike.

The PGF and Wike are now at loggerheads over who has the capacity to ensure the reelection of President Tinubu in the forthcoming 2027 general elections.

Since the President travelled, activities at the National Secretariait of the party has been at best scanty, because the National Chairman, Prof. Nantawe Yilwatda equally decided to travel for a two weeks break.

Moves by Peoples Daily to get the official position of the party concerning the incident proved abortive as party officials contacted refused to comment, giving credence to the speculation that nothing concrete may probably take place until when the President returns to the country.

It could be recalled that the bone of contention between the governors and the FCT Minister was the formation of the ‘rainbow coalition’ by Wike whose idea is the return of President Tinubu and also the election of candidates of some other political parties in some other positions.

But the PGF will not have any of such and they stated that very clearly last week after its meeting in Abuja. Chairman of the PGF, Hope Uzodimma told newsman that the party is not interested in any coalition, adding that it will work for the electoral victory of its members across the states and the various elective positions.

According to the PGF, while they welcome those from other parties working for the reelection of President Tinubu, the APC does not have any known understanding with any individual or group to concede any political position to them. They further warned that such awkward arrangements could jeopardize the party’s chances and cohesion in future.

Wike, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not waste time in firing back by describing the governors as “lazy politicians” and lacking in what he termed the capacity to deliver the President.

The FCT Minister who was recently speaking during a television interview, said the APC governors were unwilling to undertake the hard work of building political support beyond their states. He added that electoral victories usually come through strategic political engagement and coalition-building, as against the reliance on only party structures.

Wike who is also the immediate past governor of Rivers state also claimed that the governors may not have been privy to his understanding with President Tinubu, adding that the President was well aware of the existence of the now controversial rainbow coalition.

He added that his supports the President, irrespective of the fact that they don’t belong to the same party, because of his governance strategy which he said is gradually pulling the country out of its economic woes.

Already some allies of the minister within the PDP have also defended his position, contending that politics is driven by interests and alliances. Some of them have already started open campaigns for the reelection of the APC flag bearer.

For instance, recently Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP faction loyal to Wike, was seen in a now viral video campaigning for Tinubu in his Abia state.

Nevertheless, most APC stakeholders are backing the PGF by insisting that anyone who truly wants to join the party is free to do so. They argued that governors elected on the APC platform have a responsibility to protect the party’s interests and resist arrangements that could dilute its electoral strength, even beyond 2027.

Recently, the APC National Vice Chairman (South-East), Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu, who is also from Imo state, with the State Chairmen of the APC in the region, endorsed the position of the PGF, insisting that members of the ruling party should work for the success of all candidates produced by the party in the 2027 elections.

Supporters of the governors argue that political parties exist to win elections for their candidates and that any coalition arrangement that prioritizes candidates of other parties could weaken the APC’s structures and create confusion among party loyalists.

Conversely, supporters of Wike equally argue that his rising political influence, especially in Rivers state and parts of the South-South region, remains pivotal to President Tinubu’s re-election calculations. They believe that political alliance are critical to the success of the incumbent President.

However, this is not the first time the Wike factor has sparked controversy between him and some APC leaders. A few months ago, the National Secretary of the party, Sen. Ajibola Basiru, had publicly advised the FCT Minister to focus on his job in the FCT, and not to be interfering in the internal affairs of the ruling party.

It’s left to be seen the dimension the issue will take with the expected rerun of President Tinubu from his pulling the country out of its economic woes.