Former Southeast spokesman for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Denge Josef Onoh, has urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership to clarify the political status and activities of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, Onoh said the emergence of the Rainbow Coalition and its political activities required clear direction from the President and the APC leadership.
He said the coalition should clearly define its relationship with the ruling party, particularly as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.
According to Onoh, the coalition’s reported plans to support candidates for governorship, Senate and House of Representatives seats could have implications for the political configuration of the APC and the wider opposition.
He said the development was significant because of Wike’s political experience and his current position as a member of the Federal Executive Council.
Onoh also drew parallels between Wike’s current political activities and the political strategies President Tinubu employed between 2010 and 2015, when political structures outside the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) contributed to the realignment that eventually produced the APC.
He said Nigerian politics was driven largely by interests and long-term calculations, arguing that political developments ahead of 2027 could also shape alliances beyond the election.
Onoh said the possibility of further political realignments ahead of 2031 made it necessary for the APC to clearly define the roles of political groups and individuals associated with the party and the Federal Government.
He also expressed support for the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, on maintaining the cohesion of the APC and its structures.
Onoh said the APC had sufficient structures and political machinery to pursue its electoral objectives without relying on parallel arrangements.
He urged President Tinubu and the APC National Working Committee to engage Wike on his political alignment and clarify the relationship between his political structures and the ruling party.
According to him, such clarification would help strengthen party cohesion and provide greater certainty as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections gather momentum.