2027 Politics: “Choose a Side!” – Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal Demands Nyesom Wike Clarify Political Allegiance

Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has called out the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, demanding that he stop playing on both sides of the political fence ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking during an interview with Channels Television’s Inside Sources on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Lawal insisted that Wike must formally decide where his loyalties lie instead of operating through cross-party alliances like the Rainbow Coalition.

“You Can’t Be in Two Places at Once”

Governor Lawal backed the stance of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), stressing that politically, a leader cannot support the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the presidential level while backing non-APC candidates in state and legislative elections.

“Our message is very, very clear: Be on one side. You can’t be on two sides. If you are in APC, please come out and support APC—not supporting APC here and supporting other political parties somewhere else. It doesn’t make sense. It’s not done anywhere.”

— Gov. Dauda Lawal

When asked directly whether the APC governors are demanding that Wike officially defect to the APC, Lawal replied: “Exactly. What’s the essence?”

Key Highlights of the Controversy

• The Rainbow Coalition Strategy: Wike has continuously maintained his membership in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while advocating for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election through a cross-party platform called the Rainbow Coalition.

• APC Governors’ Displeasure: Progressive Governors argue that cross-party platforms dilute party structures and create confusion among voters by supporting APC for the presidency but non-APC candidates in state-level elections.

• Escalating to the President: Governor Lawal stated he intends to raise the issue directly with President Tinubu upon his return from abroad to draw a definitive boundary regarding Wike’s political alignment.

What This Means for 2027

Wike’s dual footprint—holding a top ministerial office under an APC administration while maintaining ties with PDP structures—continues to cause tension within both parties. With APC governors pushing for complete allegiance (“APC from head to toe”), the pressure on the FCT Minister to formally declare his party standing is reaching a critical point.