Internal tension has flared within the All Progressives Congress (APC). Thirty-one elected governors have voiced resistance to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike running a separate campaign structure. They insist President Bola Tinubu maintain a unified party structure managed directly by state governors. The demand reflects a power struggle ahead of the 2027 elections.
The APC has always contained factions. In 2018, the nPDP faction protested marginalisation. In 2022, the party split over the presidential primary. Wike, a former PDP governor, joined the APC after 2023. He was appointed FCT Minister. He has built alliances with aggrieved leaders. The Rainbow Coalition is his vehicle. Governors see it as a threat to their control of state party machinery. The APC constitution vests campaign coordination in the national leadership, but governors often dominate state structures. A separate campaign would bypass them.
The governors’ resistance is collective. Thirty-one of the APC’s 36 governors signed the position. They want Tinubu to reaffirm the unified structure. They want governors to manage state campaigns. Wike’s coalition has not formally responded. The FCT Minister has not commented. The presidency has not intervened. The dispute is about 2027. Governors want to deliver their states. They need resources and autonomy. A parallel structure would dilute their influence. It would also create confusion among party members. The APC cannot afford a split. It controls the presidency and most states. But internal cohesion is fragile.
The timing is critical. The 2027 elections are approaching. Party primaries will hold next year. Governors want to secure their preferred candidates. Wike wants to build a national platform. Both ambitions collide. Tinubu must choose. Backing Wike risks alienating governors. Backing governors risks losing Wike’s coalition. The APC’s strength depends on managing both.
Winners: The governors, if they win the argument. Tinubu, if he brokers a compromise. The opposition, if the APC splits. Losers: Wike, if he is sidelined. The APC, if the dispute escalates. Party members, who face confusion. Voters, who see elite infighting.
Bottom Line: Thirty-one governors versus one minister. The APC is a coalition of ambitions. Tinubu must manage it. If he fails, 2027 becomes harder. The party’s unity is not guaranteed. It must be negotiated.