A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Joe Igbokwe, has said the South-East will support President Bola Tinubu for two terms before the presidency is handed to a northerner in 2031.
Igbokwe also urged FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to meet with APC governors and explain his proposed Rainbow Coalition, which is aimed at mobilising support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
He spoke while reacting to the disagreement between Wike and APC governors over the minister’s political initiative.
Wike had described the governors as “politically lazy” after they rejected his proposed cross-party coalition.
The chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, had said the governors would not support any political arrangement capable of undermining the APC or Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
Igbokwe said Wike remained an important political stakeholder whose influence should not be disregarded.
“Wike is a critical stakeholder. You can ignore him to your own peril. He has a command. He has followers,” he said.
However, he questioned the timing and approach of the Rainbow Coalition, saying Wike should consult the APC governors and explain his intentions.
“Coming at this time, to put this (Rainbow Coalition) on the table, it’s not… he has to listen to majority, sit down with the governors and explain,” Igbokwe said.
He said the disagreement should be resolved through dialogue rather than public exchanges between Wike and the governors.
“No man is an island. Explain to your colleagues what you are trying to do,” he added.
On the 2027 presidential election and the question of political succession, Igbokwe said the South-East would support Tinubu through two terms before backing a northern candidate in 2031.
The APC chieftain’s position comes amid growing discussions within political circles over the zoning and succession of the presidency ahead of the 2027 and 2031 elections.
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