Wike Is Backing Tinubu, Not APC – Oshiomhole Makes Fresh Clarification

Edo North Senator Adams Oshiomhole has said Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike’s political support is directed at President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid rather than the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a political party.

Oshiomhole made the statement on Tuesday during an interview with TVC, amid a disagreement between Wike and some APC governors over the minister’s political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections. Wike had previously described some APC governors as “politically lazy” following their opposition to his proposed political coalition.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Oshiomhole said the disagreement between Wike and the APC governors should be viewed in the context of their stated support for President Tinubu’s return to office.

“Wike is supporting President Tinubu and not the APC,” Oshiomhole said, adding that both Wike and the APC governors were committed to supporting the President’s re-election.

The senator said he was not concerned by the differences between the two sides because, in his view, they were working towards the same objective of supporting Tinubu.

“I am comfortable with the fact that the two sides are working for the same goal, supporting the President,” he said.

Oshiomhole added that he had not heard either Wike or the APC governors oppose Tinubu’s bid to seek another term in office.

“I have not heard any side of the argument suggesting that anyone, including the FCT Minister, is opposed to President Tinubu’s re-election,” he stated.

He further pointed out that Wike had repeatedly acknowledged that he was not a member of the APC while maintaining his support for Tinubu.

Wike has also publicly stated that his support for Tinubu’s 2027 presidential bid does not mean that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), of which he remains a member, cannot field candidates in other elections. He has described his proposed Rainbow Coalition as a platform for people from different political parties who support Tinubu’s re-election.

The disagreement between Wike and the APC Governors’ Forum has centred partly on whether support for Tinubu should extend to APC candidates in other elective positions. Wike has maintained that supporting the President does not require him or other politicians to abandon their respective political parties.

Oshiomhole’s comments therefore place the ongoing disagreement within the broader political activity surrounding Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign, while distinguishing support for the President from formal membership of the APC.