The decision by the Nigeria Democratic Congress to commence registration of support groups ahead of the election has caused fresh row between the party and some support groups backing its 2027 presidential ticket.

The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement and the Kwankwassiya groups registered their disagreements in separate exclusive interviews with The PUNCH.

The NDC had earlier, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the registration was free and warned state chapters against collecting fees from groups seeking registration.

Director said the exercise was exclusively under the Directorate of Support Groups at its national headquarters in Abuja, adding that no state chapter, officer or official was authorised to register support groups or collect money for the process.

The spokesman, however, warned that any violation of the directive would attract disciplinary action in accordance with the party’s constitution.

He said, “The registration of support groups is the exclusive prerogative of the Directorate of Support Groups.

Therefore, all inquiries and registration must be directed to the Directorate of Support Groups at the national headquarters of the party in Abuja.

“The registration of support groups is free. It does not attract any fee whatsoever.”

But the Director-General of the OK Movement, John Ughulu, rejected the registration exercise, insisting that the movement remained an independent political organisation and would not surrender its structure to the NDC.

Ughulu said the movement’s existence and internal affairs did not require the approval of the NDC leadership, adding that it would resist any attempt to undermine, appropriate or dissolve its structure.

Continuing, he argued that neither the Nigerian nor the NDC constitution, as presented to the movement, gave the party exclusive authority over the internal structure of an independent political organisation.

“The OK Movement therefore makes it clear that we will not accept any attempt by any individual or group to undermine, appropriate, dissolve or otherwise interfere with the legitimate structure and leadership of the movement.

“The meaning of ‘independent’ is straightforward. The NDC has the right to constitute and manage its own campaign structures. Likewise, an independent political organisation has the right to constitute and manage its own organisational structures, subject always to the law.

“We will resist every form of intimidation, coercion or attempt to undermine its legitimate organisational structure,” he warned.

The spokesman for the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Habibu Muhammed, also called for understanding between the party and the support groups.

Speaking exclusively with our correspondent, Muhammed said the disagreements were partly a result of the NDC’s attempt to establish new structures as an emerging political party.

He said, “The truth is that the NDC is evolving and they are trying to do things differently. That is why there are some forms of misunderstanding here and there. But I believe that at the end of the day, everybody will be on the same page.

“The ultimate goal is to ensure that the party and the candidate win. Historically, the Kwankwasiyya has always remained independent, even of political parties. So, I don’t think it will be different now.

“I also believe in the Obidient Movement, just as I know that the OK Movement is also another movement; it runs on its own principles. So, Obidients and Kwankwasiyya still exist on their own.

“Again, I believe every Nigerian, as enshrined in the constitution, has a right to associate and be part of any organisation. The most important thing is for the party to understand this as well and work out something that will be better than just fixing things that are not literally important, as it is doing now.”

Mohammed highlighted that the ultimate objective of the various groups was to support the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket and that the party should create an acceptable atmosphere for support groups to operate without unnecessary restrictions.

“What we need is to create an acceptable atmosphere for all the support groups so that whoever wants to support the party in whichever way they deem can do that.

“More so, we have several associations which are putting in money and not asking for anything in return. They have seen some qualities in the candidates and are therefore working for their success.

“You should also take into consideration that a large chunk of members from these groups and movements are from other parties who agree to work together for the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket.

“If you got into Kano now, the people there are not interested in identifying with any political platform. They will ask you which one is for Kwankwaso.

“That is the complexity of this issue. There are several individual candidates, even outside the NDC, who have large support groups.

“Some are not even members of his party. Maybe as time goes on, there will be a middle ground for the party and the movements because I personally think this has more to do with the OK Movement than us,” he stated.

While admitting that a new party like the NDC is still evolving, the Kwankwasiyya leader also called for understanding on the part of the NDC leadership.

Mohammed also urged the party to borrow a leaf from the scores of support groups working in sync with the ruling All Progressives Congress without any of them being forced to register with the APC.

He said, “As I earlier said, the NDC is still in the process of evolution, being a new party and trying to do something different.

“Even in the APC, I am sure you are aware they have the City Boy Movement and different support groups that are not directly under the control of the ruling party.

“These people do their own things, raise funds through different processes, and mobilise people. They are purely independent and doing their own things without any interference by the party.”

The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr Yunusa Tanko, urged the various groups to avoid disagreements that could distract from the 2027 presidential election.

Tanko, who spoke exclusively with our correspondent by telephone, said the NDC was the platform on which Peter Obi was contesting and that support groups should focus on helping him secure victory.

He said, “The party is a vehicle in which our principal is running. He is contesting on the platform of the NDC. Look, we need to do away with all these unnecessary arguments and focus on the main goal, which is to ensure that Peter Obi wins the 2027 election.

“We align with that and anything legitimate that will help us to win the election. People roll with winners, not losers. If you continue to fight and argue back and forth, it won’t lead to you winning the poll. So, people should look at that particular aspect and come together.

“All the distractions wouldn’t help anyone unless, of course, you are being sent to cause disharmony in our midst. Our goal is to remain focused on Obi winning this election.

“Anything legitimate that can help us to do that is welcome. And exactly where our principal directs us to head is where we will go.

“So, we don’t want to dwell too long on this trivial issue. All we are interested in is to focus on winning the poll for our candidate. That is the most important thing.”

Source: punchng.com

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Several state chapters of the All Progressives Congress have rejected the Rainbow Coalition being promoted by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, with party leaders asking the former Rivers State governor to formally join the ruling party if he is genuinely committed to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.

The reactions followed a renewed confrontation between Wike and APC governors over the political structure the FCT minister is assembling ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Wike is a Peoples Democratic Party member serving in a federal government led by an APC president.

The former Rivers governor was appointed FCT minister by Tinubu after the 2023 election, despite having remained a prominent PDP politician and having contested the presidency under the opposition party.

While some APC state chapters welcomed Wike’s support for Tinubu and said they would receive him if he decided to defect to the ruling party, others opposed the coalition outright, arguing that a politician could not simultaneously support the APC at the presidential level and candidates of other parties in governorship and legislative elections.

The development has exposed a growing disagreement within the President’s political camp over how support for his 2027 re-election should be organised and, more importantly, who should control the political structures through which such support is mobilised.

The latest dispute was triggered by Zamfara State Governor and APC governor, Dauda Lawal, who told Wike to choose between joining the APC and remaining with the Rainbow Coalition.

Speaking in an interview with Channels Television’s Inside Sources on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, Lawal said the position of the APC governors was unchanged.

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

The Zamfara governor added, “And that is why we maintain our stand, and it is very clear—the message is very clear. He can speak, he can say whatever he wants to say, but our position has been very, very clear: APC all the way from head to toe.”

Asked whether the governors were asking Wike to join the APC, Lawal responded, “Exactly. What’s the essence?”

He further disclosed that he intended to raise Wike’s political position with President Tinubu.

“It’s something that I will take up with the President when he comes back. So, let there be a very, very clear line where this guy belongs to. It’s either he’s in APC or he’s out. It’s simple. And I go with my brothers, the governors,” Lawal stated.

The demand has since received varying degrees of support from APC chapters across the country.

Coalition faces resistance

In Imo State, the APC Publicity Secretary, Jones Onwuasoanya, said Wike was attempting to maintain an ambiguous political position and urged him to formally identify with the ruling party.

“Decency demands that an individual who claims so much allegiance to the philosophies and programmes of a political party should fully align with that political party, rather than playing hide and seek with his loyalty to the party,” Onwuasoanya told The PUNCH.

He added, “If Wike is sincere about his support for President Tinubu, then he should join the APC and begin to campaign for our party across all positions rather than being selective.”

The Imo APC spokesman dismissed the Rainbow Coalition as a political structure with little relevance in the state.

“As long as the All Progressives Congress in Imo State is concerned, there is nothing like a Rainbow Coalition or whatever it might be called. The APC is the only viable political platform in Imo State and Imolites are fully aligned with us,” he said.

He maintained that the party was confident of victory in 2027, saying, “There is no political arrangement or structure outside the APC that poses any threat to our Party’s electoral chances.”

In Gombe, the APC Publicity Secretary, Murtala Usman, similarly urged Wike to complete his political transition to the ruling party.

“My opinion is the same as the people who are advising him to join APC because APC doesn’t need any rainbow coalition for now,” Usman said.

He warned that such an arrangement could create confusion within the ruling party.

“That rainbow coalition will cause some confusion in the APC because those who are stakeholders in the APC, particularly in some states, will find it very difficult to handle,” he stated.

Usman argued that recent defections of PDP governors to the APC had already created difficulties for some long-standing party members.

“So Wike should switch to APC completely. Since he is doing the work of APC, let him be a full member, not a partial member,” he said.

Ondo rejects selective support

The Ondo State APC also rejected the idea of a coalition that would support Tinubu for president while backing candidates from other parties in other elections.

The state party secretary, Alex Kalejaiye, said the arrangement was unacceptable to the chapter.

“We are disturbed that the coalition would only support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the general elections, but field candidates for other positions,” he said.

According to him, APC’s objective was to deliver all its candidates and not just the presidential candidate.

“To us in Ondo State, support for the candidates of the ruling party must be total; our party is committed to mobilising votes for the President, three senatorial, nine representatives, and 26 House of Assembly candidates. That is not negotiable,” Kalejaiye stressed.

He warned that supporting different parties on the same ballot could create confusion for voters and potentially complicate the electoral process.

The chapter therefore appealed to Wike to collapse the coalition into the APC.

“The APC could therefore appeal to Barr. Nyesom Wike, the leader of the coalition, to collapse his structures into the ruling party, so we could present a common front during the elections,” he said.

Jigawa welcomes Wike

In Jigawa State, the party said it welcomed Wike’s support for Tinubu and would gladly receive him if he decided to join the APC.

The state APC Publicity Secretary, Bashir Kundu, said, “We in the Jigawa APC welcome the contribution Wike is making in promoting the President and APC candidate for the 2027 election, Bola Tinubu. We will certainly welcome Nyesom Wike if he decides to join our party, the APC.”

Kundu also argued that the APC itself emerged from a coalition of political parties and could therefore accommodate politicians from different political backgrounds.

He dismissed concerns that Wike could harm the APC’s electoral interests, saying the party had its own structures and programme.

“I am not aware of such plans, but I know for sure that Wike will not cause that kind of harm to the APC because the party has its own programme,” he said.

In Benue State, reactions were more complicated, reflecting existing divisions within the state APC.

James Orgunga, the organising secretary of one of the APC factions, praised Wike for supporting Tinubu but said he would prefer the FCT minister to formally join the party.

“Wike has joined APC already, because he is working for the president; we appreciate that, but as a core party man, anyone working for the success of a candidate in my party should be praised,” Orgunga said.

“But I do not subscribe to a rainbow coalition and am of the opinion that Wike join our party.”

However, Daniel Ihomun, the publicity secretary of another faction loyal to Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, offered a different view.

“He should not join APC; he should remain where he is because he has helped to destroy PDP for us,” Ihomun said.

He claimed that a Rainbow Coalition structure existed in Benue under what he described as the “Benue Strategic Alliance for Tinubu”, involving members of the APC, PDP and Labour Party.

Dual-loyalty concerns

In Rivers State, where Wike served as governor and remains a major political actor, the controversy has an additional dimension.

The factional APC led by Emeka Beke backed the Progressive Governors Forum’s opposition to the coalition.

The faction’s publicity secretary, Darlington Nwauju, said Wike could not simultaneously maintain loyalty to the PDP and work with the APC.

“The truth remains that if you look at the background or the context of Nigerian elections and if you cast your mind to the fact that the level of political education in Nigeria is still way behind,” Nwauju said.

He argued that asking voters to support candidates from different political parties at different levels could create confusion.

“You cannot confuse the electorate by thinking that you can order them into voting for candidate A in party A and candidate B in party B on the same election day,” he stated.

Nwauju said the APC governors were therefore justified in asking Wike to either join the party or stay away from its internal affairs.

“My belief is that the Progressive Governors Forum is in the right with the advisory that they have issued. Join the APC or leave her alone. You cannot stand [and] use your association with the APC to rebuild the PDP,” he said.

He further alleged that Wike’s activities could contribute to a revival of the PDP, describing that as a concern for the ruling party.

The Anambra State APC chairman, Senator Emmanuel Anosike, described Wike’s coalition as an affront to the party and its governors.

“It amounts to an insult to the integrity and sensibility of the APC and its governors for Wike to make such comments,” Anosike said.

He argued that Wike, as a PDP member, had no basis for intervening in the internal affairs of the APC.

“The minister is not a member of the party, hence should stop meddling in the internal affairs of the party,” he stated, noting that the APC governors had sufficient political structures to deliver Tinubu in 2027.

“Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State is the leader of the APC Governors Forum, and he is in full control of the party structures across the country through the members of the Forum and has shown capacity having delivered Mr President at his first term election and still has all that it takes to do it again in 2027,” he said.

He described Wike’s intervention as an attempt to remain politically relevant, adding that the Anambra APC did not recognise the Rainbow Coalition as an alternative political structure.

Kwara questions coalition strategy

The Kwara State APC chairman, Sunday Fagbemi, questioned the practicality of the Rainbow Coalition’s proposed electoral strategy.

Fagbemi described it as “a grand deception and a confusing strategy”, particularly because presidential, senatorial and House of Representatives elections are held simultaneously.

“What is the level of enlightenment of Nigerian voters? How do you explain to someone that, out of the five elections, at least three—the presidential, senatorial and House of Representatives elections—will be conducted on the same day?” he asked.

He continued, “Will you stand by the ballot box and tell a voter to vote for one party for President and another party for Senate? Even if that were possible, do you want to populate the National Assembly with opposition parties to the President? What kind of support are you giving the President that way?”

Fagbemi said APC members were expected to vote for the party’s candidates across the ballot.

“I believe the party has been very clear about this: if you are an APC member, the election is five out of five, not even three out of five. As APC members, everyone should vote for the party and its candidates,” he stated.

Plateau condemns coalition

The Plateau State APC chairman, Rufus Bature, said the party had no knowledge of any Rainbow Coalition structure in the state.

“We don’t know anything about Rainbow Coalition in Plateau State. I’m just coming from a retreat in Maiduguri with the APC National Chairman and other members of the National Working Committee and Rainbow Coalition was condemned totally for every state,” Bature said.

“If it is going to work in Rivers, that is their problem, but for other states, nobody should go and do anything like Rainbow Coalition,” he added.

However, Bature said Wike remained free to join the APC.

“If he wants to join the APC, he is free to do that because we don’t stop people from joining our party. But he cannot be APC in the morning and PDP in the night. We won’t allow that,” he declared.

Bature also suggested that Wike’s coalition could be part of a longer-term political strategy.

“I think he just wanted to build structure for himself against the 2031 or 2035 election,” he said.

On whether the coalition could pose a threat, he said, “The coalition might be a threat, but we are not taking it for granted.”

Nasarawa seeks total support

The Nasarawa APC also rejected the coalition and urged Wike to join the ruling party.

The state Publicity Secretary, Augustine Ogaba, commended Wike for supporting Tinubu but said such support would be more meaningful if he became a recognised APC member.

“As APC members, we do not approve of any coalition that is not recognised or supported by our party’s leadership,” Ogaba said.

“The FCT minister has set up his own coalition but decided to support Mr President’s re-election in 2027. I will tell you that we quite appreciate that, but we will be happier if he joins our party,” he added.

Some state chapters have declined to take a position, stressing that the matter is too sensitive or should be decided by the national leadership.

In Osun, APC spokesman Kola Olabisi said the question of whether Wike should join the party was beyond the state chapter.

“The decision on whether Wike should join APC or not is beyond the state level. It will be decided at the highest level of the party. It is the national level of the party that has the final say on that,” he said.

The Delta State APC chairman, Solomon Arenyeka, similarly said the state chapter was awaiting a formal position from the national leadership.

“It is the national that makes such policy statements, and when they make a statement it goes down the line. The national has not made a policy statement on it,” Arenyeka said.

In Bayelsa, APC chieftain Doubara Joseph called on Wike to join the party if he was genuinely committed to Tinubu.

“If Wike is actually working for President Tinubu and believes in the President’s leadership, then the straightforward thing for him to do is to join the APC. You cannot claim to be working for the President while simultaneously sustaining another political platform,” Joseph said.

However, the Bayelsa APC chairman, Warman Ogoriba, declined to comment.

Sokoto APC chairman Haruna Adiya also said his chapter had no member in the Rainbow Coalition and declined to take a broader position on whether the party endorsed or opposed the alliance.

Wike’s defence

Wike, for his part, has consistently rejected the argument that his Rainbow Coalition is an APC structure or that it is intended to undermine the ruling party.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike said the coalition’s support was specifically for Tinubu’s presidential re-election and did not prevent other political parties from contesting governorship and legislative elections.

The minister has argued that his position is consistent with the political arrangement that existed before the 2023 presidential election, when he and other members of the G5 supported Tinubu without formally joining the APC.

Wike also maintained that “politics is local” and that political actors should be allowed to determine their alliances at the state level.

His position is different from that of APC governors, who have argued that support for Tinubu must not be separated from support for APC candidates contesting other positions.

In a subsequent public appearance, Wike again said his immediate political concern was Tinubu’s re-election and rejected suggestions that the coalition was designed to destabilise the APC.

Speaking on the controversy, Minister of Works David Umahi, a former Ebonyi State governor who defected from the PDP to the APC, said there was no Rainbow Coalition in Ebonyi State.

“If Wike has candidates here, he has not told me. And his candidate cannot break our relationship, but his candidate is not part of our relationship. There is no rainbow coalition in Ebonyi State,” Umahi said.

He also warned political actors against hate speech and attempts to cause disorder during campaigns.

“Anybody that wants to campaign, come and campaign. But don’t dish out hate speeches and you want to take those speeches, and you want that we should lay a red carpet for you. We will not do that. Nobody can foment crisis in Ebonyi State,” Umahi added.

Sokoto, Niger, Bauchi cautious

In Sokoto, chairman Haruna Adiya said the state party had no member in the Rainbow Coalition.

“We have no issues with the Rainbow Coalition. We have no member of the coalition in Sokoto State,” he said.

In Niger State, APC spokesman Musa Sarkin-Kaji said the party had no formal relationship with Wike, although he acknowledged his association with the ruling party.

“The APC in Niger State has no business with Wike, although we appreciate his relationship with our party. And you know we are in a democracy, and everyone has the freedom of association,” he said.

In Bauchi, APC spokesman Shehu Dauda said the party did not believe in divided loyalty.

“We don’t believe in someone in another party claiming to be with us, or our party members claiming not to support any of our candidates. Whoever is with the APC should be with it and not divide their loyalty.”

Despite the calls from APC figures for Wike to join the ruling party, some PDP figures insist that the FCT minister remains a member of the opposition party.

In Abia State, PDP deputy governorship candidate Abraham Amah said Wike remained a PDP member and national leader.

“It is normal practice. When you see somebody who is doing well, a politician who is doing well, you want that person to become a member of your party,” Amah said, describing the APC’s invitation as political courting.

He added, “But one thing is certain: that he remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, and he is the national leader of the party.”

Source: punchng.com

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