Fresh political realignments may be taking shape within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as some governors said to be uncomfortable with the growing influence of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike are reportedly opening discreet channels to former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

The alleged contacts, according to political sources familiar with the development, are being considered as part of efforts to counter the expanding influence of Wike’s Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The development comes against the backdrop of an increasingly public disagreement between Wike and some APC governors over the coalition, which the minister has presented as a platform for mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election across party lines.

The Progressive Governors Forum, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, has already declared that APC governors would not support political arrangements capable of weakening the ruling party or its candidates in the 2027 elections.

However, sources said some governors were becoming increasingly concerned that Wike’s strategy could alter political calculations in their respective states, particularly by providing a platform for politicians dissatisfied with the APC to work together against established party structures.

One of the sources said the governors were particularly watching developments in states where politicians who lost APC primaries or became dissatisfied with the party’s internal arrangements had begun gravitating towards the Rainbow Coalition.

The source said the situation was also being viewed against the timing of the 2027 elections, with the presidential and National Assembly polls scheduled for January 16, followed by governorship and state assembly elections on February 6.

According to the source, the governors’ concern was not necessarily about the outcome of the presidential election but about the political consequences of alliances forged around the presidential contest.

“They are looking beyond 2027. The issue is what happens at the state level after the presidential election and whether politicians working with the coalition could eventually emerge as governors and later realign with the APC,” the source said.

The source recalled that Nigeria’s recent political history had witnessed several instances of elected opposition governors crossing over to the ruling party, arguing that such precedents had made the governors wary of political arrangements that could alter the balance of power in their states.

Against that background, the source said Atiku and the ADC were among the political alternatives being considered by some of the affected governors.

The alleged strategy, according to the sources, would not necessarily amount to an immediate defection from the APC but could involve establishing political contacts with opposition blocs capable of serving as a counterweight to Wike’s growing network.

The sources further claimed that some governors believe they should be able to explore alternative political relationships if Wike, while remaining a prominent PDP figure, can openly mobilise politicians across party lines in support of Tinubu.

Wike has maintained that his Rainbow Coalition is primarily aimed at securing support for Tinubu’s re-election and does not require politicians to abandon their respective parties or withdraw candidates from governorship and legislative contests.

The minister reiterated that position during a television appearance on Monday, arguing that supporting Tinubu at the presidential level could coexist with individual political ambitions at the state and National Assembly levels.

But that position has clashed with the stance of APC governors, who have insisted that their support for Tinubu must also extend to APC candidates contesting other positions.

The disagreement has brought Wike into confrontation with several APC governors, notably Uzodimma and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. Wike on Tuesday also identified Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun among those he said were opposed to his coalition.

Wike has rejected allegations that the coalition was designed to undermine the APC or that President Tinubu had agreed to concede nine states to the group. He challenged those making the allegation to identify the states allegedly covered by such an arrangement.

The minister has also said his political objective is to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election, while leaving politicians participating in the coalition free to pursue their own governorship and legislative ambitions.

The unfolding dispute is, however, creating new political calculations within the APC, particularly as aggrieved party members and politicians from different political platforms continue to explore the emerging coalition landscape. Recent reports have also indicated that several dissatisfied APC figures have been moving towards Wike’s Rainbow Coalition.

For the governors allegedly exploring contacts with Atiku, political sources said the objective was to create room for alternative alliances should the Rainbow Coalition gain greater influence in their states before and after the 2027 elections.

The reported development could therefore add another layer to the growing political contest surrounding the 2027 elections, with the APC, ADC, PDP and emerging cross-party formations increasingly positioning themselves for influence at both the presidential and state levels.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no official confirmation from the APC leadership or the Progressive Governors Forum on the alleged contacts with Atiku. The Atiku camp also did not officially confirm or deny the development. (Daily Independent)