2027: Cost of APC govs, Wike fight

The escalating conflict between the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, may significantly impact the 2027 general elections, according to recent reports. With 31 out of 36 state governors belonging to the APC and 15 of them running for reelection, the tension within the party has reached a boiling point.

The Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), led by Hope Uzodimma, the Imo State Governor, has formally rejected cross-party political arrangements proposed by Wike, who is the national leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction backed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Wike has been actively supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's re-election under the "Renewed Hope Agenda" while encouraging the election of various candidates from different political platforms.

The PGF's decision to prohibit its members from engaging in or endorsing external coalitions could potentially disrupt the party's unified front, posing a significant risk to President Tinubu's bid for re-election. Wike, however, maintains that his support for Tinubu is solely for the president and not an endorsement of APC candidates contesting in the 2027 elections.

He argues that voters in Nigeria are capable of supporting different parties for different offices and cited election results from states like Imo, Abia, Enugu, and Ebonyi to support his argument.