By Julius Peter, Abuja
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has told the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, that he should join the All Progressives Congress (APC) if he intends to openly support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for re-election in the 2027 presidential election.
Lawal’s position comes amid heightened political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections and continuing speculation over Wike’s political direction, particularly given his continued membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while serving in the APC-led Federal Government.
The Zamfara governor, who himself moved from the PDP to the APC in March 2026, is now an APC member and has been affirmed as the party’s candidate for the 2027 Zamfara governorship election. His defection followed consultations with political stakeholders in the state and came amid the prolonged leadership crisis within the PDP.
Lawal’s comments on Wike therefore add another dimension to the ongoing debate over the political identity and alliances of prominent figures ahead of 2027.
Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, remains a member of the PDP but has been a prominent member of President Tinubu’s administration since his appointment as FCT Minister. His position has attracted considerable attention as political parties and blocs prepare for the 2027 elections.
In August 2026, Wike explained that he could not serve as Director-General of Tinubu’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council because he was not an APC member. He also said he did not want to risk losing Rivers State and the FCT while heading the presidential campaign. The APC subsequently appointed former Zamfara Governor and serving Senator, Abdulaziz Yari, as Director-General of its Presidential Campaign Council.
Lawal’s latest position effectively places the question of Wike’s party affiliation at the centre of his relationship with the President ahead of the 2027 election.
The development is also significant because Lawal was, until March this year, a leading opposition governor under the PDP.
After extensive consultations with political leaders, stakeholders and supporters, Lawal announced his defection to the APC, citing prolonged internal crisis, leadership disagreements and unresolved structural challenges within the PDP.
At the time, his media aide, Nuhu Anka, said the decision was taken in the interest of stability and development of Zamfara State and to facilitate stronger cooperation between the state government and the Federal Government.
The governor subsequently secured the APC’s backing for his 2027 re-election bid. In May 2026, he was affirmed as the party’s consensus governorship candidate in Zamfara State.
His transition from the PDP to the APC has consequently become part of the broader pattern of political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections.
Wike’s political position is particularly noteworthy because of his dual status as an influential PDP figure and a serving minister in an APC-led Federal Government.
Since joining the Federal Executive Council, Wike has maintained that his appointment as FCT Minister does not automatically make him an APC member. His continued membership of the PDP has generated debate within political circles, especially as the 2027 presidential contest draws closer.
The former Rivers governor has also publicly participated in activities associated with the Tinubu administration, while maintaining his own political identity.
The question of whether Wike will eventually join the APC, remain in the PDP or adopt another political position is therefore expected to remain an issue of political interest as the election approaches.
The political landscape ahead of the 2027 election has witnessed significant movements among major political actors.
President Tinubu is seeking another term on the APC platform, while opposition forces are organising around other political platforms. Recent reports indicate that the major political camps are strengthening their structures and seeking alliances across the country ahead of the election.
The APC has also continued to consolidate its presence, particularly in the North-West, where the party currently controls the governorships of the seven states in the region, including Zamfara.
For Lawal, who is now firmly within the APC structure, Wike’s continued position outside the ruling party presents an apparent contradiction that he believes should be resolved if the FCT minister intends to openly campaign for Tinubu.
The latest exchange is likely to further fuel discussions about the political alignments of prominent PDP figures serving in the Tinubu administration and the extent to which their support for the President may translate into formal membership of the APC before the 2027 elections.
As the election approaches, the movement of politicians between parties, the formation of alliances and the positioning of influential political actors are expected to remain major features of Nigeria’s political landscape.
