Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has challenged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to clearly state his political allegiance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Lawal made the remarks during an online interview in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
The governor said Wike could not simultaneously support the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and maintain political ties with other parties.
Wike, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been associated with the “Rainbow Coalition,” a multi-party platform backing President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
Lawal said members of the APC needed clarity from Wike on where he stood politically.
“Our message is very, very clear: be on one side, you can’t be on two sides,” the governor said.
He added that if Wike intended to support the APC, he should openly align himself with the party rather than supporting it while also maintaining relationships with other political parties.
Asked whether APC governors were effectively asking Wike to formally join the ruling party, Lawal responded, “Exactly.”
The Zamfara governor also said he intended to discuss Wike’s political position with President Tinubu when the President returns from his break in France.
Meanwhile, Wike has continued to state that his priority is supporting Tinubu’s victory in the 2027 presidential election. He has also rejected suggestions that the Rainbow Coalition was created to undermine existing political parties.
Wike’s continued association with the PDP, while supporting Tinubu’s re-election bid, has generated debate within political circles as parties prepare for the 2027 elections.
