APC Chieftain Tells Wike: ‘We Won’t Let You Use Us to Rebuild PDP

A former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Farouq Aliyu, has criticised Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over his recent comments about APC governors and political developments ahead of the 2027 elections.

Aliyu made the remarks while appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, where he responded to Wike’s criticism of some APC governors and the party’s position on political alliances ahead of the elections.

Wike had described APC governors as “politically lazy” during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, amid growing political realignments ahead of 2027.

His comments followed a resolution by the APC Governors’ Forum opposing alliances that could undermine President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid or affect the interests of the party’s candidates.

The forum, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, said its members would not participate in, support or endorse any arrangement capable of weakening the APC or affecting its electoral interests.

Reacting to the development, Aliyu described Wike’s approach as political arrogance, while acknowledging the role he played in the political developments that preceded his current relationship with the APC.

“Arrogance is not good in politics. We are not trying to be arrogant to the Nigerian people, but that’s what we think Wike is bringing,” Aliyu said.

He added that although the APC appreciated Wike’s past actions, the party would not allow itself to be used to rebuild the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“We appreciate what he did for us, and anybody that is willing to destroy his party for us, we welcome him, like Wike tried to destroy his party,” he said.

“Now, we will not allow him to also use our party, the APC, to build his own party, the PDP. He cannot come through the back door in the name of support for President Tinubu.”

The disagreement has also featured prominently in Ebonyi State, where Governor Francis Nwifuru responded to claims surrounding possible political arrangements involving the state ahead of 2027.

Speaking at a political event in Abakaliki on Wednesday, Nwifuru dismissed suggestions that President Tinubu had agreed to hand the state to the PDP and Wike.

The governor said he was not intimidated by such political developments and warned against attempts to undermine his administration.

The exchanges come as political parties and their stakeholders continue to position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections, with alliances and defections shaping discussions across several states.