Jibrin Backs Wike as Asset Amid APC Governors' Growing Tensions

Abdulmumin Jibrin, a Kano State federal legislator and prominent APC figure, has stepped forward to endorse Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory's Minister, as a meaningful asset to Nigeria's ruling party. During Wednesday's appearance on Channels Television's Politics Today, Jibrin called on party leadership to handle their differences with Wike privately instead of airing disputes publicly.

Jibrin's intervention arrives amid escalating tensions between Wike and sections of the APC's governor cohort as 2027 presidential polling approaches. The Rainbow Coalition, Wike's multi-party political vehicle, sits at the heart of this disagreement, drawing skepticism from governors, particularly those backing the Progressive Governors' Forum steered by Hope Uzodinma of Imo State.

Adding fuel to the dispute: Wike continues as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party while simultaneously championing President Bola Tinubu's bid for re-election. According to the Kano legislator, Wike has surrendered much to advance both the APC's interests and Tinubu's political ambitions.

Jibrin maintained that every single member of Nigeria's ruling party has directly or indirectly reaped rewards from Wike's work inside government and within party ranks. His intervention appears aimed at tempering what has evolved into a pivotal power contest over who will command the political mobilization apparatus supporting the President's 2027 campaign.

This widening fissure illustrates divergent perspectives within the APC about Wike's positioning and the shape of Tinubu's political alliance. While Jibrin champions accommodation and cohesion, certain governors remain wary that Wike's cross-party coalition could diminish their authority over regional political machinery or dilute the APC's brand strength.

The confrontation reflects larger questions about factional divisions within Nigeria's dominant political organization preparing for the coming electoral competition.