NIGERIA: Several governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have reportedly petitioned President Bola Tinubu over the political activities of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, amid concerns about their implications for party cohesion.
According to a political analysis by Sunday Adelaja in Premium Times, the governors are urging Tinubu to address what they perceive as Wike’s growing influence and confrontational political approach, which they believe could undermine the authority of party leaders and elected officials.
The report said the governors had expressed concern over Wike’s alleged tendency to operate independently of established party structures, with some reportedly describing him as “politically toxic” and a “liability” to the APC’s stability.
However, details of the alleged petition, including the identities of the governors involved and when the communication was submitted, were not provided in the account. There was also no official confirmation of the petition from the Presidency or the governors concerned.
The reported development comes amid questions over Wike’s political position and his relationships with influential figures across party lines.
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, was a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before supporting Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election. His appointment as FCT minister subsequently placed him in the President’s cabinet despite his political background in the opposition party.
His continued political engagement across party lines has attracted attention, particularly as political alignments begin to take shape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The reported disagreement centres on whether Wike’s political influence and independent style of engagement are compatible with the interests of APC governors seeking to strengthen their party structures and consolidate their influence in their respective states.
For the governors reportedly involved, the alleged intervention is intended to clarify the relationship between the President’s political allies and the party’s established leadership structures.
Tinubu, meanwhile, would have to navigate any such disagreement while maintaining relationships with key political figures whose support could be significant to his administration and the APC.
As of the time of this report, the Presidency had not publicly responded to the alleged petition. The claims surrounding the governors’ concerns and the reported descriptions of Wike remain unverified.
