Rainbow Coalition: ‘It’s Either You’re in APC or Out,’ Lawal Tells Wike
By Nafiu Muhammad Lema
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has challenged Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to clarify his political allegiance amid his association with the Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been linked to the Rainbow Coalition, a cross-party political platform supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for re-election in 2027.
However, governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have opposed the arrangement, with the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) expressing concerns that a cross-party coalition could undermine the President’s re-election campaign.
Speaking during an interview with Channels Television’s Inside Sources on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, Lawal said Wike could not simultaneously identify with the APC and other political parties.
“Our message is very very clear, be on one side, you can’t be on two sides. If you are in APC, please come out and support the APC, not you are supporting APC here and you are supporting some other political parties somewhere else,” Lawal said.
The Zamfara governor said the APC governors remained firm in their position despite Wike’s comments on the matter.
“We maintain our stand and the message is very clear. He can speak, he can say whatever he wants to say, but our position has been very clear, APC all the way from head to toe,” he said.
When asked if the governors were effectively calling on Wike to join the APC, Lawal responded, “Exactly.”
He added that he would raise the matter with President Tinubu when the President returns from his working vacation in France.
“It’s something I will discuss with the President when he comes back. Let there be a clear line where this guy belongs to. It’s either he is in APC or he is out, simple. So I go with my brothers, the governors,” Lawal said.
The governor’s comments came after the PGF rejected the idea of a cross-party political arrangement involving APC members, arguing that such an arrangement could affect efforts towards Tinubu’s 2027 re-election.
Wike, meanwhile, has continued to express support for Tinubu’s re-election, describing the President’s victory in the 2027 presidential election as a major political priority.
The FCT Minister made the declaration on Monday in Abuja while speaking with journalists after inspecting ongoing road projects in the capital.
Wike also dismissed claims that the Rainbow Coalition was established to destabilise existing political parties.
The minister has, however, maintained political links with PDP candidates in some states ahead of the 2027 elections, including Imo and Kwara.
