Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has fired back at Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, over the controversy surrounding his proposed “Rainbow Coalition” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike insisted that his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election is unwavering but stressed that he never promised that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not field candidates in other elections in 2027.
His comments followed a resolution by governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) rejecting political alliances or parallel structures they believe could weaken the ruling party or undermine Tinubu’s second-term bid.
The position was announced on Monday night by Uzodinma, who is Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, after a meeting of APC governors in Abuja.
The APC governors reportedly resolved to focus on candidates sponsored by the ruling party and oppose arrangements that could create divided loyalty within the APC.
However, Wike, in a statement issued on Tuesday through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, maintained that the Rainbow Coalition was not an APC structure.
According to him, the coalition is designed to mobilise politicians from different political parties who support Tinubu’s re-election based on their assessment of his performance in office.
Wike recalled that members of the G5 governors did not seek the approval of the APC before supporting Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election.
He said the same principle would guide his political position ahead of the 2027 presidential poll.
The former Rivers State governor also took a swipe at Uzodinma while highlighting the voting patterns recorded in some South-East states during the 2023 elections.
Wike questioned how APC candidates won legislative seats in states where Tinubu recorded relatively low presidential votes during the same election.
“In Imo State under Governor Hope Uzodinma, how did APC win two senate seats in 2023, in an election held the same day with that of the President and APC had less than 15 percent in the presidential election? Was it rainbow coalition? Were the voters confused?” he asked.
He also cited the performance of APC candidates in National Assembly elections in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu States, arguing that voters were capable of supporting candidates from different political parties during the same election cycle.
Wike said such voting patterns could occur again in 2027, provided politicians genuinely mobilise support for Tinubu’s presidential bid.
He stated, “If in 2023, the voters in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi voted APC in the Senatorial election and voted another party in the presidential election, they won’t be confused in 2027 provided we all support the president genuinely this time?”
The FCT minister further clarified that his immediate political priority was to ensure Tinubu’s re-election, after which politicians could return their attention to contests in their respective states.
“After the President must have been reelected, we can all go and face elections in our States,” he said.
Wike stressed that his commitment was specifically to Tinubu’s presidential campaign and that he had not entered into any agreement to prevent the PDP from presenting candidates in other elections.
“What I said and stand for is that I will mobilise support for the reelection of the President. I never promised anyone that PDP will not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and States House of Assembly elections,” he said.
He also maintained that the Rainbow Coalition should not be interpreted as an attempt to undermine the APC.
“Most importantly, rainbow coalition has nothing to do with the APC. Rather, it is own way of mobilising support accross political parties for Mr President, who has done well to deserve a second term,” the statement added.
The disagreement highlights the potential political complications surrounding Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign, as supporters from different political parties seek to work together at the presidential level while maintaining their respective party structures and candidates for other elective positions.
