The APC Grassroots Governance Organization has accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, of allegedly building a political structure aimed at creating divisions within the All Progressives Congress, APC, and weakening the party’s leadership ahead of future political contests.
The organisation, in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its spokesman, Mukhtar Taminu, described Mr Wike’s so-called “rainbow coalition” as a “disguised political army” allegedly designed to undermine the cohesion of the ruling party.
It alleged that the FCT minister was using the coalition as a platform to build a personal political network capable of challenging APC governors and party structures across the country.
According to the group, it was hypocritical for Wike to present the political project as a broad-based coalition while allegedly using it to confront elected governors and create tension among members of the governing party.
The organisation drew parallels between Wike’s current political activities and his role in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2023 general elections.
It recalled that as governor of Rivers State, Wike was a leading member of the Integrity Group, popularly known as the G5 governors, which opposed the leadership of the PDP over disagreements surrounding the party’s presidential campaign and zoning arrangements.
The group argued that the activities of the G5 contributed to the internal crisis that weakened the PDP ahead of the 2023 elections.
It alleged that a similar political strategy was now being deployed within the APC under the banner of a “rainbow coalition”.
“Wike’s current political manoeuvring bears a striking resemblance to the template he deployed within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2023 general election,” the organisation said.
“Today, we are witnessing what appears to be the same script being replayed within the APC.”
The group questioned the purpose of the coalition, arguing that a genuine political coalition should promote cooperation, dialogue and unity rather than become a platform for attacking elected officials and creating rival structures within a governing party.
It further accused Wike of repeatedly directing criticism at several APC governors, including those of Kwara, Imo, Enugu, Nasarawa, Gombe, Jigawa, Plateau, Delta, Zamfara and Ebonyi states.
The organisation also alleged that the minister had publicly boasted about his ability to confront or “deal with” some APC governors.
It described such statements as “reckless” and “provocative”, warning that they could further deepen divisions within the ruling party.
The group expressed particular concern that Wike, as a serving minister in the administration of President Bola Tinubu, could engage in political activities which, according to it, had the potential to set members of the governing party against one another.
“It is particularly disturbing that a serving minister of the Federal Republic, who should be working to strengthen the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would engage in conduct capable of setting members of the governing party against one another,” it said.
The organisation maintained that the APC was bigger than the political ambitions of any individual, stressing that the party belonged to millions of Nigerians and its elected officials and stakeholders across the 36 states.
It warned that the ruling party should not be reduced to an instrument for advancing the political interests of any individual or group.
The group further warned that if Wike’s alleged political activities were not checked, they could trigger serious internal instability within the APC and potentially affect the party’s electoral prospects.
It urged the APC leadership, governors and other stakeholders to learn from the experience of the PDP before the 2023 elections and prevent the emergence of internal factions capable of weakening the party.
