We’ll Manage Wike, Govs Face-off Through Dialogue, Maturity – Yilwatda

| Says political differences normal in democracy

The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda has said the party will manage the political face-off between its governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, through dialogue, maturity and mutual respect.

Yilwatda said the APC’s priority was to maintain party unity, respect the democratic rights of all political actors and remain focused on the 2027 elections.

The national chairman spoke exclusively with LEADERSHIP through his special adviser on media and information strategy, Abimbola Tooki, in Abuja yesterday.

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The disagreement followed the APC governors’ rejection of any political alliance or arrangement they believe could undermine the party or its candidates in the 2027 elections.

Led by the chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, the governors said they would support only candidates officially sponsored by the APC.

Uzodimma said the governors would neither participate in, support nor endorse any alliance capable of weakening the party or adversely affecting its candidates.

“The APC Governors’ Forum unanimously resolved that its members will not participate in, support or endorse any alliance or political arrangement capable of undermining the re-election of Mr President, weakening the APC or adversely affecting any candidate of the party at all levels.

“In other words, the Forum has no intention to support any candidate at any level that is not an APC candidate because our candidates who are contesting the election are being sponsored by our party,” the governors said in a communique read by Uzodimma.

The declaration was widely viewed as a response to Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, which the FCT minister has said was focused on mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election rather than supporting APC candidates in other elections.

Wike has maintained that his support for Tinubu does not amount to abandoning the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stressing that he remains free to support candidates of his choice in other contests.

He also criticised the APC governors for opposing the coalition, describing them as “politically lazy” and arguing that supporting a presidential candidate should not prevent political parties from fielding candidates in governorship and legislative elections.

“There was never a day I went to the Governors’ Forum to align with the APC coalition. There was never one day. I have been talking about my alliance with political parties, and there was never one day that he referred to our alliance,” Wike said.

The development unfolded while the APC national chairman was away on a two-week overseas vacation. He returned earlier last week.

Reacting to the disagreement, Yilwatda said political differences were normal in a democracy and could be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.

He described the situation as a difference in political perspective rather than an issue that should be allowed to become a distraction.

“Mr Wike has made his position on the Rainbow Coalition known, while APC governors have also clearly stated their support for the President and the party’s candidates.

“For us in the APC, the priority is to maintain party unity, respect the democratic rights of all political actors and remain focused on the 2027 elections.

“The National Chairman has consistently emphasised that the party’s doors remain open to constructive engagement, but the APC will continue to strengthen its structures and work with all stakeholders committed to the progress of the country.

“There is therefore no need to personalise the disagreement or escalate the rhetoric. Political differences are normal in a democracy, and we believe they should be managed through dialogue, maturity and respect for the institutions and processes of the various political parties,” he stated.