Tinubu’s alliance with Wike, Adeleke, Soludo unsettles APC loyalists ahead of 2027

The appointment of prominent opposition politicians to President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 campaign council has sparked discontent within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and raised concerns about the electoral prospects of candidates from rival parties.

According to Sunday PUNCH, party stakeholders in Osun, Anambra and Rivers states are questioning the decision to appoint politicians outside the APC as campaign coordinators, despite longstanding members seeking prominent roles.

The expanded council named Anambra Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke of Accord and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Some APC loyalists fear the appointments could weaken grassroots mobilisation, while opposition candidates worry that campaigning for Tinubu could confuse supporters expected to vote against APC legislative candidates.

An anonymous APC official alleged that former Osun governor Gboyega Oyetola was unhappy about Adeleke’s appointment, while party figures in Anambra and Rivers also expressed reservations.

“This is already causing disaffection and dampening the morale of our members. Some members are no longer willing to give their all because they feel the party does not believe in them,” the source said.

However, campaign council media team member Segun Showunmi dismissed fears of division, saying the appointees and APC structures would cooperate to secure Tinubu’s re-election.

In Anambra, an APGA stakeholder warned that Soludo’s participation could weaken the party’s candidates in National Assembly elections.

APGA National Publicity Secretary Ejimofor Opara rejected that concern, explaining that the arrangement applied to the presidential contest, not legislative races.

“So, while we align with Tinubu’s presidency, in Anambra, it is Tinubu for President, APGA for Senate, House of Representatives, and State House of Assembly,” he said.

In Osun, Accord presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim challenged the assumption that Adeleke could deliver votes to Tinubu.

“Governor Adeleke, the fact that he won his election as governor cannot compel the people of Osun State to vote for President Bola Tinubu,” he said.

PDP politicians also expressed conflicting views. Kaduna candidate Danjuma Sarki warned of possible losses, while officials in several states maintained that voters could distinguish presidential and legislative contests.

The debate has revived memories of the 2003 election, when the Alliance for Democracy supported President Olusegun Obasanjo’s re-election but lost five of its six South-West governorships.

Supporters of the new alliances insist that cooperation at presidential level need not mean surrendering party interests elsewhere. Critics, however, remain concerned about divided loyalties and the consequences for local campaigns.

Accord leaders were divided, with some welcoming cooperation across party lines and others fearing damage to expansion plans. In the PDP, state officials similarly disagreed over whether Wike’s involvement represented an individual political choice or a broader challenge to their party’s election strategy.