‘It’s Either You Are In APC Or You Are Out’ – Governor Lawal Sends Strong Message To Wike On Rainbow Coalition

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has challenged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to clarify his political allegiance regarding his involvement with the Rainbow Coalition, asserting that he cannot simultaneously align with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition political parties.

Wike, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been linked to the Rainbow Coalition, a cross-party political alliance designed to build support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 presidential bid.

However, APC governors under the umbrella of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) have distanced themselves from the cross-party movement, warning that such political arrangements risk undermining the President’s campaign structure.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s programme, Inside Sources, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, Lawal insisted that Wike must take a definitive political stance.

“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 the APC, not you are supporting APC here and you are supporting some other political parties somewhere else,” Lawal stated.

The Zamfara governor emphasized that the governing party’s governors remain unified in their stance regardless of public reactions from the FCT Minister.

“We maintain our stand and the message is very clear. He can speak, he can say whatever he wants to say, but our position has been very clear, APC all the way from head to toe,” he noted.

When asked if the APC governors were directly asking Wike to formally defect and join the ruling party, Lawal responded, “exactly.”

Lawal further revealed plans to bring the matter before the Presidency once President Tinubu returns from his private vacation in France.

“It’s something I will discuss with the President when he comes back. Let there be a clear line where this guy belongs to. It’s either he is in APC or he is out, simple. So I go with my brothers, the governors,” he said.

Responding to the opposition from APC governors, Wike reaffirmed his commitment to President Tinubu’s leadership, maintaining that securing victory for the President in 2027 remains his primary focus.

Speaking to journalists on Monday during an inspection of road infrastructure projects in Abuja, Wike dismissed claims that the Rainbow Coalition was created to weaken existing political structures, despite his reported backing of PDP candidates in select states including Imo and Kwara.