WIKE – APC GOVERNORS FEUD; WHICH WAY DOES THE PENDULUM SWING?

BY MANSIR LAWAL KAWARE, KATSINA STATE – 08036355591

23/9/2026

In recent days, the political atmosphere in Nigeria has been filled with the air waves of Wike, APC Governors disagreement over what was coined as a rainbow coalition for the election of President Tinubu and a style of electing the Wike PDP Wing candidates in 2027.  The tug of war has attracted attention because the two sides are considered so strong that their different standings can break the APC Calabash that can hardly give room for stiches of the two sides given the remaining period to election day.

While the Governors saw themselves as the strongest force of the party when it comes to winning or losing election, Mr. Nyesome Wike as the FCT Minister sees himself as a man wearing the Toga of the President and can have the Federal, might behind him in case of any altercation.  Indeed, Nyesome Wike was himself a former Governor of a very strong state in terms of financial clout, but his savior is being close to the President, otherwise he cannot pull a string against a united front of over thirty Governors to the extent of calling them lazy as allegedly, reported over the build up to 2027 for Tinubu.   Mr. Wike should be reminded that he is only floating because of the attention given to him by President Tinubu, otherwise where were the Rivers Governors that served before him?  He should not forget that he was an aide to Rotimi Amaechi, but the name of Wike is ringing bell since 2023 after he left office.  Mr. Peter Odili was there before him and not much is being heard about him.  If I may diagress a little, even the wife of Odili who retired as a Supreme Court Judge does not say much.  Apart from the votes from Rivers and to some extent FCT, where else is he likely to influence votes for Tinubu?

In my view, Wike was rewarded with the position of FCT Minister for doing nothing.  All those shouting in support of Wike for the role he played in 2023 that brought Tinubu to power are doing so, because they have not subjected the role of Wike to analysis in the configuration of voting power in accordance with the declared election results of 2023.  In addition, they never looked into the primary reason of Wike’s support for Tinubu.  Even in court there is what is referred to as establishing a Prima Facie case in the matter before the court, ahead of going into trial.

We need to remember that Mr. Wike joined the Presidential contest under PDP along with Atiku Abubakar and other interested contenders courtesy of his being a serving Governor of Rivers State.  He was also banking on zoning, that it was the turn of the South to produce the Presidential flag bearers of political parties, but since that position was not backed by the Nigerian constitution, Atiku stood his ground to contest and he won.  The offence taken by Wike for his defeat was unnecessary because it remains clear that Atiku is stronger than Wike as even today he is still standing on his feet as a Presidential candidate while Nyesome Wike is subservient to others.

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Now, whoever is following me should understsnd that Wike only supported Tinubu in 2023 so as to take revenge on Atiku, but not because he cares about Tinubu winning the election or having a Southern President on the throne.  He chose to go with Tinubu against his own party not because Tinubu was a Southern candidate, but because the chances of winning the election that could translate into defeat of Atiku were much more with APC, as a ruling party with over twenty Governors then, and majority members of the National Assembly.  If it were just for a Southern Candidate, he would have supported Peter Obi who contested under Labour Party, because by Geographical location Obi is closer to Wike than Tinubu in terms of having a Southern President.

Therefore, it is Wike that was assisted by APC and Tinubu to meet his goal and should be the one to thank APC for providing him with the enabling environment to achieve that feat against Atiku and not the vice – versa.  Without APC and Tinubu, Wike couldn’t have achieved that success of having Atiku defeated, and would have remained with the agony for life.  It is therefore Wike that was offered assistance and should thank APC and Tinubu for that, but not the other way round.   Supposing that he won the PDP Primary election for 2023, could he had supported Tinubu for the office?   Therefore, Wike was nothing other than a circumstantial supporter of Tinubu and APC in the 2023 election.  After all, what percentage of votes has he contributed to the APC in 2023 that brought Tinubu to power?  Don’t forget that Rotimi Amaechi was a former Governor of Rivers State and a Presidential aspirant in the APC 2023 primary election and both Amaechi and his supporters remained in APC and voted for the Party in 2023.  If you subtract their votes, what then was the contribution of Wike.  He is more of a noise maker than an achiever, thereby claiming what was delivered with the sweat of others.

Tinubu won the 2023 election with over eight (8) million votes, the North gave over five (5) Million, the South gave over three (3) million, out of which Rivers State gave 231,591 votes, how many of the votes came via Wike?  Katsina and Kano States gave over twice each of the total votes from Rivers, Jigawa gave over 190,000 votes than that of Rivers, Kaduna gave over 170,000 votes than Rivers, Zamfara headed Rivers with about 60,000 votes, Sokoto with over 50,000 votes and Kebbi was more than Rivers, with over 10,000 votes, what then made Wike’s contribution different.  More so, as I pointed out, the votes gotten from Amaechi and his supporters have to be deducted from the Rivers 231,591 votes to determine the contribution of Wike.  And don’t forget that in 2015, Rovers State gave Jonathan over 1,480,000 votes which was a little less than 1.5 million votes.

If kudos are to be given to Wike, it should be for destroying PDP against 2027 presidential election and his doing that was only to pay his dues.  The APC Governors are right.    I conquer with them, this Rainbow coalition of Wike is not realistic.  It is like offering a mother an accommodation and sending her children away.  No mother would sit in the comfort of a fully air-conditioned room without knowing the where about of her children.  There is nothing like rainbow coalition.  If he wants to reciprocate what Tinubu has done to him, he should be man enough to ask his supporters to vote for Tinubu and also attempt to win for his candidates under PDP, but not with a confused voting system of APC supporters vote.  APC members should simply vote for clear APC candidates.  No two way traffic.

Mansir Lawal Kaware, 

Writes in from Katsina