The APC Grassroots Governance Organization has accused Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, of attempting to destabilise the All Progressives Congress (APC) through what it described as a “rainbow coalition.”
The group, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Mukhtar Taminu, on Wednesday in Abuja, alleged that Wike was using the political coalition to build a personal political structure capable of challenging the party’s leadership and elected governors.
According to the organisation, the minister’s current political activities bear similarities to his role in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Wike, then governor of Rivers State, was one of the leaders of the G5 governors, also known as the Integrity Group, which opposed the PDP’s presidential campaign under former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
The APC group alleged that the G5 contributed to deepening divisions within the PDP ahead of the 2023 elections and warned against what it described as a repetition of the same political strategy within the governing APC.
“We find it deeply hypocritical that the FCT Minister publicly presents his political project as a broad-based coalition while, in practice, appears to be building a personal political army capable of undermining the unity of the APC, its elected governors and its structures across the country,” the group said.
It questioned the purpose of the proposed “rainbow coalition”, arguing that a genuine political coalition should promote cooperation and dialogue rather than create rival structures or fuel disagreements within a governing party.
The organisation also accused Wike of repeatedly confronting APC governors, citing his reported disagreements with governors in Kwara, Imo, Enugu, Nasarawa, Gombe, Jigawa, Plateau, Delta, Zamfara and Ebonyi states.
It described the minister’s alleged comments about his ability to confront or “deal with” some governors as “reckless” and “provocative”.
The group further expressed concern that Wike’s political activities could undermine the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and weaken the APC ahead of future elections.
“Wike must understand that the APC is bigger than his political ambitions,” the statement said.
The organisation said the APC belonged to millions of Nigerians, elected officials and stakeholders across the country and should not be reduced to a platform for advancing the political interests of any individual.
It also alleged that Wike’s political calculations could be linked to future power configurations and the 2031 political cycle.
“Nobody should be allowed to destabilise the APC today in pursuit of a personal political arrangement for tomorrow,” the group said.
The organisation called on Wike to stop what it described as insults, threats and public attacks against APC governors and urged the party’s leadership and governors to remain vigilant against attempts to create divisions within its ranks.
It said the immediate priority of APC members should be to support the Tinubu administration, strengthen the party’s elected officials and consolidate the gains of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The group maintained that political ambition and organisation were legitimate but should not come at the expense of party unity and stability.
“A rainbow coalition cannot become a political army,” it said.
The APC Grassroots Governance Organization said it would continue to advocate party unity, internal democracy and the interests of APC members at the grassroots.
The statement was signed by Mukhtar Taminu on behalf of the organisation.
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