APC chieftain Aliyu rebukes Wike for 'lazy 419' governors comment, warns against internal attacks
Former House Minority Leader and APC chieftain Farouk Aliyu told Channels Television's Politics Today on Thursday that the party rejects FCT Minister Nyesom Wike's description of APC governors as 'lazy 419ers,' stating such name-calling is 'totally unacceptable' and very uncalled for. Aliyu spoke while reacting to the ongoing feud between Wike and APC governors led by Imo State's Hope Uzodimma, who had previously rejected any alliances threatening President Bola Tinubu's 2027 re-election bid and affirmed loyalty to the party's cause.
Aliyu emphasized that Wike cannot dictate how APC runs its campaigns, adding it is unacceptable for the party to consider coalitions where members vote for Tinubu and another party. The APC chieftain stressed that those trying to help the party should not insult its members, directly addressing Wike's recent remarks on Arise Television's Prime Time programme where he called the governors 'politically lazy.'
This exchange highlights growing tensions within Nigeria's ruling party as the 2027 general elections approach, with APC governors having already positioned themselves as a unified bloc supporting Tinubu's candidacy. The feud risks exposing fractures in the party's coalition at a critical juncture when internal solidarity is seen as vital for electoral success.
As 2027 campaigns intensify, will APC maintain public unity despite private disagreements like this, or will such public spats between key figures undermine voter confidence in the party's ability to govern effectively?