ABUJA — A political scientist at the University of Ilorin, Dr Abdul Kareem Jimoh, has warned that the political activities of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, could create serious consequences for the All Progressives Congress (APC) beyond the 2027 general elections.

Jimoh, the immediate past Head of the Department of Political Science at the University of Ilorin, gave the assessment while speaking with Vanguard on the political coalition associated with Wike.

According to the political scientist, concerns expressed by some APC governors over Wike’s political activities are understandable because the minister’s alliances could affect the interests of the ruling party at the state level.

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Jimoh said some APC governors may be concerned that Wike’s political influence and alliances in Abuja could strengthen President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election prospects while potentially weakening APC candidates in some states.

“The governors are right to be angry because Wike is affecting their own interest. Wike has collaborators within the presidency and among the party in Abuja and their concern is that so far as the president’s interest has been taken care of, they are less concerned about what will happen to the party at various state levels,” he said.

He noted that politicians crossing traditional party boundaries or working with politicians from other parties was not entirely new in Nigerian politics.

“It’s not a new thing in politics that we’re having this kind of political development, that a particular politician that belongs to a political party will still have his way in another party,” Jimoh added.

The political scientist also described Wike as an influential political actor whose reach, according to him, extends beyond conventional APC structures.

“Wike is even so powerful than some of the landlords of the APC. So, as a political scientist, we are studying it, we want to see the aftermath of this kind of action,” he stated.

While acknowledging the immediate political calculations surrounding Wike’s alliances ahead of the 2027 elections, Jimoh said his greater concern was the possible long-term impact on the APC.

He argued that the consequences may become more apparent after the 2027 election, particularly if President Tinubu secures a second term and the APC begins the process of choosing another presidential candidate for 2031.

“To some extent, I have my reservations on the consequences of this particular development regarding Wike in particular,” Jimoh said.

He predicted that Wike could potentially become a major political challenge for the ruling party during the 2031 presidential succession battle.

“The consequences will be on the ruling party APC not today but in 2031, that is when Wike would have probably satisfied Tinubu’s interest and APC will want to pick another candidate and Wike will now become a serious threat and challenge,” he said.

Jimoh, however, cautioned that political outcomes cannot be predicted with certainty and that the eventual consequences of the current alliances would depend on how events unfold.

“But we will wait and see in 2031 what will happen,” he added.

His comments come amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with politicians and political groups increasingly forming alliances across party lines as they position themselves for the next electoral cycle.