BY AHMED AKANBI
Former South East spokesperson to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Denge Josef Onoh, has told the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to either formally join the All Progressives Congress (APC), or stop interfering in the party’s affairs ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Onoh, who is also Chairman of the Forum of Former Members of the Enugu State House of Assembly, made the call in a statement on Sunday, accusing Wike of using his political activities to undermine APC structures across the country.
He particularly criticised Wike’s so-called ‘Rainbow Coalition’, alleging it was designed to weaken the ruling party while advancing the minister’s personal political interests.
According to Onoh, the coalition cannot be compared to the G5 governors’ alliance that played a key role ahead of the 2023 elections.
“The G5 comprised five serving governors who controlled established political structures in their states.
“Today, Wike’s new ‘Rainbow Coalition’ has completely crumbled from that standard. It is not an alliance of powerful state executives; it is a desperate collection of political castaways, disgruntled ex-office holders and floating political contractors who hold no real electoral value in their own political wards,” Onoh stated.
He also questioned Wike’s ability to replicate his political influence beyond Rivers State, arguing that the minister’s reach remains largely concentrated there.
Onoh accused Wike of attempting to weaken APC structures through public disagreements with Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma.
He described the disputes as an attack on governors who are critical to APC’s grassroots mobilisation for 2027.
“By attacking highly respected APC governors who are the authentic custodians of the party’s grassroots votes, Wike is actively sowing the same seeds of discord that he used to tear the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) apart,” he said.
The former presidential aide warned APC leaders against any arrangement that would see voters support Tinubu for President but vote opposition candidates in National Assembly elections.
“We cannot exchange a robust, organic party victory for a transactional arrangement,” he cautioned.
Onoh then issued a direct ultimatum: “Our position is simple: either Nyesom Wike fully, formally and unconditionally registers as a card-carrying member of the APC at his political ward, or he must step aside immediately.”
He added that Wike’s comments about keeping opposition figures like Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi under pressure will only fuel more debate within the APC over his political status ahead of 2027.