“He Destroyed PDP For Us, But We Won’t Let Him Destroy APC” – APC Chieftain Farouk Aliyu Warns Wike

Tensions within the ruling All Progressives Congress [APC] have intensified as party chieftain and former House of Representatives Minority Leader, Farouk Aliyu, warned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, against what he described as political arrogance.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Aliyu addressed the ongoing feud between Wike and APC governors over the party’s campaign structure for the 2027 presidential election.

The dispute follows Wike’s proposed “Rainbow Coalition” and his recent comments in which he labelled some APC governors as “politically lazy” and “419ers.”

Aliyu said Wike’s utterances could anger Nigerians and damage the party.

“We don’t want this kind of utterances to trigger and make Nigerians angry. Because, look, arrogance is not good in politics. We are not trying to be arrogant to Nigerian people, but that’s what we think Wike is bringing,” he said.

When asked if Wike is considered an asset to the APC, Aliyu acknowledged Wike’s role in the 2023 elections.

“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. Now, we will not allow him to also use our party to build his own party. No. So he cannot come through the back door that, ‘Look, we are supporting Tinubu, we are supporting Tinubu,'” he said.

The presenter asked if some party members now regret Wike’s involvement.

“No, no, no, no, no. We are not regretting at all. We are not regretting that Wike worked for us,” Aliyu responded.

On whether Wike could become more of a liability than an asset if he continues, Aliyu agreed.

“Than an asset. Absolutely. There will be problem. There is difference between 2023 and now. In 2023, he was in his party majorly, and then decided to destroy his party. He started from their convention that, ‘Look, the way you treated me…’ and then look, it is true what PDP did. So he left the party because of that. So to us, we were happy,” he said.

Aliyu emphasized that Wike has already been adequately compensated for his 2023 support with the FCT ministerial portfolio and urged him to respect established party structures.

The rift highlights a deepening struggle over who controls the political machinery in key states ahead of 2027. While Wike maintains that his coalition efforts are designed to ensure President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, APC governors led by Progressive Governors Forum Chairman and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma have rejected parallel campaign structures, insisting on party supremacy.

Party insiders are now calling on President Tinubu to intervene to broker peace before the internal wrangling damages the APC’s standing ahead of the next general election.