Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that he promised President Bola Tinubu he would defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Wike said his commitment has always been limited to supporting Tinubu’s bid for re-election in the 2027 presidential election, rather than joining the ruling party.
The former Rivers State governor made the clarification during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time amid an ongoing political disagreement between him and APC governors over his proposed “Rainbow Coalition.”
Wike maintained that he had made his position clear from the beginning and never told Tinubu that he would become an APC member.
“I told them I would support the President right from the start. I never told Mr. President I will join APC. Go and ask him,” Wike said.
He also responded to comments by Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, who has opposed political arrangements outside the APC’s official structure ahead of the 2027 elections.
Wike said Uzodimma would not determine whether he eventually joins the APC.
“If I want to join APC, it’s not people like Hope who will tell me to join APC,” he said.
The FCT minister further criticised Uzodimma’s conduct within the APC, saying the Imo governor should consider himself fortunate that he is not currently a member of the ruling party.
The remarks followed a recent position by APC governors that they would support only the party’s official candidates and would not participate in external political alliances that could undermine the APC’s candidates.
Wike has also insisted that his support for Tinubu should not be interpreted as an agreement to prevent the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from fielding candidates in other elections.
He said the PDP could still contest governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections in 2027, while he personally mobilises support for Tinubu’s presidential campaign.
According to Wike, the Rainbow Coalition is intended as a multi-party platform for politicians supporting Tinubu’s re-election and is not an extension of the APC.
The political dispute comes as parties and politicians begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Wike’s continued membership of the PDP while serving in Tinubu’s administration remaining a notable feature of the current political realignment.
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