Lawal draws line under Wike’s cross-party political strategy
Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal has challenged FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s strategy of supporting President Bola Tinubu while backing non-APC candidates in other elections. The dispute has exposed growing tensions between Wike and APC governors, who say presidential support should extend to the party’s candidates at every level.
Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has urged FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to choose clearly between the All Progressives Congress and other political platforms, intensifying a dispute over Wike’s support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid. Lawal’s position, cited in a Premium Times opinion article by Emmanuel Ado, reflects the stance of the Progressive Governors Forum, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma. The governors object to Wike’s reported “Rainbow Coalition”, a cross-party arrangement through which he supports Tinubu for president while backing candidates from other parties in governorship and legislative contests.
“Be on one side. You can’t be on two sides,” Lawal was quoted as saying. He added: “It’s either he is in APC or he is out.” Lawal also said he would raise Wike’s political position with Tinubu.
The governors regard Wike’s approach as a challenge to the APC and to their control of political structures in their states, according to the source material. Their stated position is that support for Tinubu should also include APC candidates contesting governorship and legislative elections. The dispute follows Wike’s continuing prominence in national and Rivers State politics.
The article says he played a significant role in the crisis that weakened the Peoples Democratic Party and later received influence over political developments in Rivers State after becoming a federal minister. It also describes his prolonged conflict with his successor, Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Ado argues that Wike’s political leverage may have declined as the political landscape changed.
The article says the PDP is no longer viewed by the APC as its principal challenge, while the movements associated with Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi have become more significant rivals. The source concludes that the disagreement could put Tinubu in the difficult position of choosing between Wike’s coalition and APC governors who control party structures in their states. It says Lawal’s intervention indicates that the governors no longer intend to tolerate Wike’s political ambiguity.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.