2027: Group Warns Wike, APC Stakeholders Against Actions That Could Divide Party

State coordinators of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors (RHA) have cautioned Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and other stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) against political actions they said could weaken the party’s structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The group said support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election from politicians and groups outside the APC should not result in actions that undermine the party’s candidates, governors or structures at the state and local government levels.

In a statement signed by representatives from various geopolitical zones, the coordinators also backed the position of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) that APC governors have responsibilities to both President Tinubu and candidates contesting elections on the party’s platform.

The statement comes amid attention on the emerging Rainbow Coalition associated with Wike and its reported plans to mobilise support for Tinubu across political parties.

The RHA said such mobilisation should complement existing APC structures rather than create competing political structures at the grassroots.

“Minister Wike is entitled to mobilise support for President Tinubu. He has made it clear that the coalition is separate from the APC and is intended to mobilise support for the President across political parties,” the group said.

“But if that mobilisation begins to work against APC candidates or creates competing centres of political authority in states and local communities, then it is reasonable for APC leaders and governors to draw a clear line.”

The coordinators said the President’s re-election campaign would require effective grassroots structures, arguing that weakening the party’s existing machinery could create difficulties for candidates contesting other positions on the APC platform.

They added that APC governors had responsibilities to the party and its candidates in their respective states, warning that competing mobilisation structures could create confusion among supporters.

The group said the RHA had established mobilisation structures across the country, including national and zonal leadership as well as structures covering the 774 local government areas, 8,809 wards and polling units.

The coordinators also cited the 2023 general elections, saying that cross-party support arrangements produced varying outcomes across states and constituencies.

They argued that support for a presidential candidate without corresponding grassroots mobilisation for other candidates could lead to fragmented electoral outcomes.

The group therefore urged Wike and other supporters of Tinubu to coordinate their activities with existing structures to avoid political rivalry among supporters of the President.

“Our message to Minister Wike is straightforward; support President Tinubu, by all means, but do not turn that support into a platform for undermining APC governors, APC candidates, or the party structures working at the grassroots,” the coordinators said.

They called for greater coordination among groups supporting Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections, rather than competition over political mobilisation structures.

The statement was signed by representatives including Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh of Abia, Hon. Zachary Madiyi of Adamawa, Prince A. Ikim of Akwa Ibom, Amb. Tarzoor Terhemen of Benue, Chief Olajide Awe of Ekiti and Hon. Musa Shuabu Mohammed of Jigawa, among others.