Anti-party claims:Wike, Soludo, Adeleke fight back

•CSOs knock PDP, APGA, Accord leaders By Luminous Jannamike, Dickson Omobola, Henry Obeta & Esther Onyegbula The decision by some opposition governors to align with President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign has raised questions about party loyalty, political survival and the ability of opposition parties to present a united front ahead of the 2027 general election.

At the centre of the unfolding political drama are the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); and Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party. Findings by Sunday Vanguard showed that their political choices have placed their respective parties in a delicate position as they grapple with the implications of their members’ involvement in a campaign to return the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to power.

Crisis Wike, a prominent PDP figure and former Rivers State governor, has maintained his support for Tinubu despite the protracted crisis within the PDP and his strained relationship with members of the party opposed to his position. Soludo, on his part, has had to navigate the implications of his political relationship with the President while remaining in APGA, a party with its own electoral ambitions and identity.

Adeleke’s emergence under the Accord Party banner has also drawn attention to the political calculations surrounding his relationship with the Tinubu-led administration and the implications for his party. Although the circumstances surrounding the three politicians differ, their positions have triggered debate over whether opposition politicians can support the electoral ambitions of a rival party without undermining the platforms on which they built their political careers.

Against the backdrop of the approaching 2027 elections, the development presents a test of the PDP, APGA and Accord Party’s capacity to manage internal disagreements, defend their political identities and determine the limits of acceptable conduct by their prominent members. It has also raised questions about the strength of party discipline in Nigeria, where political allegiances are frequently shaped by personal interests, strategic calculations and the search for relevance in the corridors of power.

Also, many are unsure whether what the politicians have done amounts to anti-party activities. Constitution Accordingly, the constitutions of the affected parties, in various sections, spell out actions that could constitute anti-party activities. Specifically, Section 10(6) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Constitution provides that no member shall align with other parties or groups to undermine the party or any of its elected governments.

The provision formed the basis of the party’s August 2025 warning against members publicly supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid. Section 59(1) was also cited by the party’s National Working Committee in issuing a reprimand over alleged anti-party activities. “The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has reviewed the anti-party activities of certain members of the Party, particularly those endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for re-election in 2027,” the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, warned.

Also, Article 21 of the APGA Constitution, which deals with party discipline and disciplinary measures, provides for sanctions against members whose conduct brings the party into disrepute or ridicule. The provision requires members to maintain discipline in their public and private conduct. Like the PDP, APGA’s Anambra State chapter, in August 2022, specifically warned members against campaigning for candidates of other political parties, soliciting votes for them or promoting them on social media, describing such actions as anti-party activities.

Similarly, Article 20(A)(vi) of the Accord Party Constitution, under discipline and offences, expressly identifies engaging in anti-party activities as an offence. Dismissed Article 14(3) also provides that a member may be dismissed by the appropriate party organ for anti-party activities, gross misconduct or violation of the constitution. These provisions establish a basis for disciplinary action against members found to have acted against the party’s interests.

Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, reportedly said: “We must avoid anti-party activities. Severe sanction awaits any party member who works against the candidates of the party.” Sunday Vanguard also observed that, irrespective of these provisions, Wike, Adeleke and Soludo have openly identified with President Tinubu’s campaign while still supporting other members vying for positions in their respective parties.

For instance, Wike, who has openly declared support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, described the emerging cross-party alliance as a “National Rainbow Coalition” involving poli