Politics
2027: Join APC or quit the Rainbow Coalition, Zamfara Gov tells Wike
By Son Tertsea, Abuja
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has been told to either join the All Progressives Congress or quit the Rainbow Coalition by the Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal.
Lawal said this, insisting that Wike cannot support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election while backing candidates of other parties in the 2027 elections.
The governor stated this in an interview with Channels Television’s Inside Sources on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday, monitored in Abuja.
The governor said the position of APC governors on Wike’s cross-party political platform remained unchanged, despite the minister’s repeated defence of the coalition.
He said Wike should make his political allegiance clear ahead of the 2027 elections. In his words:
“Our message is very, very clear: Be on one side. You can’t be in two sides. If you’re in APC, please come out and support APC. Not you’re supporting APC here and you’re supporting other political parties somewhere else. It doesn’t make sense. It’s not done anywhere.
“And that is why we maintain our stand, and it is very clear—the message is very clear. He can speak, he can say whatever he wants to say, but our position has been very, very clear: APC all the way from head to toe.”
Asked if the governors were asking Wike to join the APC, Lawal replied, “Exactly. What’s the essence?”
He added that he would raise the matter with Tinubu, saying Wike’s political position needed to be clearly defined.
“It’s something that I will take up with the President when he comes back. So, let there be a very, very clear line where this guy belongs to. It’s either he’s in APC or he’s out. It’s simple. And I go with my brothers, the governors,” Lawal said.
The dispute centres on Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, a cross-party platform through which the minister has been mobilising support for Tinubu’s re-election while maintaining that political parties should remain free to field candidates for governorship and legislative elections.
Wike has repeatedly said his support for Tinubu does not amount to an endorsement of APC candidates in other contests.
In a statement issued earlier this month, Wike said he would support Tinubu for the presidency while the Peoples Democratic Party would remain free to contest governorship, National Assembly and state House of Assembly elections. He also said the Rainbow Coalition had nothing to do with the APC.
The minister subsequently defended the coalition, saying its objective was to mobilise people from different political platforms to support Tinubu’s re-election. He also questioned the opposition of APC governors to the arrangement, citing the role of the G5 governors in the 2023 presidential election.
The APC governors, however, have maintained that they would not support any political arrangement capable of weakening the party or its candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
The disagreement has since widened into a dispute over political structures for the 2027 elections, with the governors objecting to a platform that could support Tinubu at the presidential level while backing candidates outside the APC in governorship and legislative contests.
Lawal also responded to Wike’s description of some APC governors as lazy, saying the FCT minister knew the people he was referring to.
“Well, I mean, he knows the people he’s referring to, honestly. As for me, I mean, you can’t say that in Zamfara State. The difference is very, very clear. I invite anybody to come and see what we’re doing in Zamfara State,” he said.
By Felix Umande
The NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Wednesday took his campaign for a new Nigeria to Benue State, combining humanitarian visits with a major town hall engagement in Makurdi.
Supporters described the gathering as an opportunity to engage directly with political leaders they believe can bring about a new Nigeria.
At the town hall, Obi unveiled his five-point agenda, promising jobs for young people, security for farmers, and an end to a system where employment depends on connections.
“We are going to ensure that young people have access to opportunities that will enable them to start their own businesses. We will also ensure that those who want to farm can return to their farms securely.
“We will ensure that when we create jobs, employment will no longer depend on knowing somebody. We must create a society where a child of nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody.”
On security, Obi said securing Nigeria would not be difficult, citing the position of the United Nations that the world should not be a means of defence.
He then listed his priorities in order:
“I repeat, we will ensure that we unite Nigeria. Nigeria will be one. We will unite Nigeria. Number two, we will secure Nigeria. Number three, we will fight corruption and stop the stealing of public funds so that public money can be used for the public good. Number four, we will invest in health to ensure proper healthcare. And number five, we will invest in education.”
He closed with his signature pledge: “A new Nigeria is possible! A new Nigeria is possible! We will move Nigeria from consumption to production.”
Before the town hall, Obi visited the palace of the paramount traditional ruler of the Tiv people, the Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse, in Gboko.
The royal father thanked him for the visit, prayed for his protection and for a successful engagement in the state, and called for more prayers for Benue and Nigeria.
Obi told the monarch he was in the state for combined humanitarian and political engagements, and that it was important to visit the palace for blessing and important discussions.
He was accompanied by Bishop William Avenya of Gboko Catholic Diocese, Reverend Tor Ujah, other clergies and party supporters.
From Gboko, Obi proceeded to Yelwata community in Guma Local Government Area, where 271 people were massacred in June last year by armed invaders.
There, he laid a wreath in honour of the slain victims, in a solemn moment that underscored the humanitarian leg of his visit to the state.
–Promised water, basic edu for orphans
By Felix Umande
Presidential hopeful Peter Obi on Wednesday visited Yelwata community to commiserate with residents affected by recent attacks, pledging borehole water, N10 million for the education of orphaned children, and sustained support for the community.
Obi said he came to feel the pain of the people and to listen to their cries, not to apportion blame over what happened.
“First, I came here to most sincerely commiserate with the people of Yelwata. I came to feel your pain. I came to feel your cries.
“I have listened to Dr. Andrew. Let me assure you that we feel your pain. We understand all that you are going through, and I assure you that, while we are working hard in Nigeria, we must stop mothers from crying for their children and stop children from crying for their parents.”
Obi said his vision was for a secure country where no Nigerian fears living in his or her community and no Nigerian becomes a refugee.
“As long as Yelwata is suffering, Nigeria is suffering. As long as Yelwata is going through pain, Nigeria is going through pain. That is what we want to stop,” he said.
“We are not here in any way to say that we know what happened or who was responsible. We are here to say that what happened in Yelwata should not happen in a Nigeria where we are ready to fight back.”
He called on all men of goodwill to ensure that such an incident does not happen again, and prayed for comfort for mothers who lost their husbands and children who lost their parents.
Responding to issues raised by community leader Dr. Andrew, Obi identified water as the most urgent need and promised to support the provision of a borehole for the community.
“The most important issue Andrew raised today was the need for water. Andrew, I assure you that we will support you. I will support you to ensure that a borehole is provided here,” he said.
He also announced an initial sum of N10 million to support the education of children who became orphans and may no longer be able to go to school, noting his belief in supporting education, especially at the basic level.
Obi added that he would engage other agencies to explore ways of providing healthcare support for the community.
“Today, my purpose is to listen to what has happened. I have listened to your experiences, and I assure you that we will do whatever it takes to support this community and help you overcome these difficulties,” he assured.
“We cannot continue to have a Nigeria like this. We must deal with this situation. We want to unite Nigeria, secure it and lift people out of poverty. I want people to return to their farms.”
Obi assured the community that within two years, Nigerians would have access to primary healthcare, with a plan to build 10,000 primary healthcare centres covering at least one in each of the 8,809 wards in the country.
He said communities were currently without primary healthcare facilities, with schools not functioning and residents not secure.
“We will ensure that we decisively address these security challenges so that Nigerians can go to bed with their eyes closed and return to their farms to earn a living. I assure you that we will do this,” he said.
Obi disclosed that it was his third attempt to visit Yelwata and expressed happiness that he finally made it without any incident. He said he spoke with the Governor the previous day and that Governor Alia welcomed his visit.
“This will not be my last visit. I will come back to Yelwata. I am part of your pain,” he said.
Politics
In Defiance to Shettima’s Call: Benue APC forms ‘Strategic Alliance’ With other Political Parties
By Felix Umande
The Benue APC has formed the Strategic Alliance for Tinubu/Shettima 2027 with other political parties to garner votes for the president and his vice.
With loud silence about the party’s governorship candidate, the situation triggers suspicion of an arrangement to vote for a governorship candidate of their choice, outside the APC.
The constituted comprehensive Joint Campaign Council is to coordinate and oversee its campaign activities across Benue State in support of the 2027 re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The constitution of the Council is the Alliance’s efforts to establish a coordinated and inclusive campaign structure that brings together its various political parties, stakeholders, political leaders and support groups across the state.
The Alliance has also announced Friday, November 20, 2026, as the date for the official commissioning of its Campaign Secretariat in Makurdi. The date for the formal inauguration of the Joint Campaign Council will be announced in due course.
According to a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary, Dan-Morgan Ihomun, on November 9, 2026, these events will formally mark the commencement of the Alliance’s structured campaign operations across Benue State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The comprehensive list of members of the Joint Campaign Council is presented below:
1 Sen. Dr. George Akume (CON), Chairman
2 Chief, Dr. Samuel Ortom, Deputy Chairman
3 Prof. Sen. Amb. Ioywuese Hagher, Vice Chairman Zone-A
4 Chief, Laha Dzever Vice Chairman Zone-B
5 Chief Sylvester Ameh (MON), Vice Chairman Zone-C
6 Engr. Prof. Joseph Utsev, Member
7 Chief, Simon Shango (MFR), Chairman APC Elders Council/Member
8 Chief, Sen. Ameh Ebute, Member
9 Senator Jack Tilley Gyado (CON), Member
10 Dr. Austin Agada (APC State Chairman), Member
11 Chief. Ezekiel Adaji (PDP State Chairman), Member
12 Hon. Timothy Terzungwe Malu (PRP State Chairman), Member
13 Comrade Simon Ogbe (Zenith Labour Party State Chairman), Member
14 Comrade Ogli Joseph (All Progressive Grand Alliance State Chairman), Member
15 Hon. Aba Oche Innocent (NNPP State Chairman), Member
16 Comrade Emmanuel Terver Nyianshima (BOOT State Chairman), Member
17 Comrade Tor Aondofa Paul (NRM State Chairman), Member
18 Comrade Abaya Mike Kahan (YPP State Chairman), Member
19 Hon. Elias Abu Adikwu (ADC Legacy State Chairman), Member
20 Hon. Ogaia Ominyi (ADP State Chairman), Member
21 Hon. Ochigbo Matthew (NDP State Chairman), Member
22 Hon. Samuel Salifu (APP State Chairman), Member
23 Bishop Benson Ijachi (Accord Party Chairman), Member
24 Hon. Ochonu William Okofie (Labour Party State Chairman), Member
25 Chief, Akange Audu, Director General
26 Hon. Joshua Saleh, Deputy Director General
27 Sen. Abba Moro, Member
28 Sen. Memga Emmanuel Udende, Member
29 Sen. Titus Zam, Member
30 H.E. Hon. Chief, Mrs, Regina Akume (Jp), Member
31 Rt. Hon. Dickson Tarkighir , Member
32 Hon. Arch. Asema Achado, Member
33 Hon. Sekav Iortyom, Member
34 Hon. Terseer Ugbor, Member
35 Hon. Sesoor Ikpagher, Member
36 Hon. David Agada Ogewu, Member
37 H.E, Engr. Benson Abounu, Member
38 Chief, Samuel Adaa Maagbe, Member
39 Dr. Anthony Inalegwu Ekedegwa, Member
40 Prof. Barr. Agbo Madaki , Member
41 Hon. Lady Lilian Ogbole, Member
42 Engr. Dr. Mrs Roseline Ada Chenge, Member
43 Chief, Mike Aondoakaa (SAN), Member
44 Dr. Mathias T. Byuan, Member
45 Barr. Ukeyima Pius Akutah, Member
46 Arch. Sunny Echono, Member
47 Barr. Cosmos Akighir, Member
48 Chief, Mike Mku, Member
49 Hon. Jeffery Kuraun, Member
50 Hon. Terwase Orbunde, Member
51 Prof. Francis Aba Uba, Member
52 Dr. Dajoh Ashinya Tyover, Member
53 Dr. James Anbua, Member
54 Dr. Vincent Isegbe, Member
55 Chief, Mrs. Helen Bendega, Member
56 Barr. Mrs Patricia Kupchi, Member
57 Hon. Mrs Rosemary Aule, Member
58 Chief, Agbo Ogah, Member
59 Rt. Hon. Barr. Emmanuel Jime, Member
60 Chief, Elisha Amali, Member
61 Chief, Barr. John Ochoga, Member
62 Hon. Agbo Ameh, Member
63 Amb. Paul Adikwu, Member
64 Hon. Donald Gbuho Amokaha, Secretary
65 Amb. Dr. Philip Eche, Deputy Secretary
The Benue Strategic Alliance for Tinubu/Shettima 2027 may be another version of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike’s, Rainbow Coalition, a body Vice President Kashim Shettima recently condemned while on campaigns in Lafia.
At the event, the Vice President had called on APC members to vote, from down to the top, all those contesting elections on the party’s platform.
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