Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has clarified that his Rainbow Coalition is focused on mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 and has no affiliation with the All Progressives Congress.
Gatekeepers News reports that Wike made the clarification in a statement issued on Tuesday by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, following a declaration by APC governors that they would not support political alliances capable of undermining the party or its candidates in the 2027 elections. (The Cable)
Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, said after the governors’ meeting in Abuja that APC governors would support Tinubu as well as candidates contesting under the party’s platform.
The governors said they would not participate in, support or endorse any political arrangement that could weaken the APC or adversely affect its candidates at any level. (Premium Times Nigeria)
Wike, however, said his support for Tinubu was limited to the presidential election and did not amount to an agreement that the Peoples Democratic Party would withdraw from other contests.
‘I Never Said PDP Won’t Field Candidates’
The FCT minister said he never entered into an agreement with the APC before he and other members of the G5 governors supported Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election.
He argued that voters could support Tinubu for president while backing candidates from other political parties in governorship, National Assembly and state House of Assembly elections.
Wike cited the 2023 elections in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi states, where voters supported different parties in presidential and legislative contests.
“In Imo State under Governor Hope Uzodimma, 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?” Wike asked.
“Was it Rainbow Coalition that also made APC win National Assembly elections in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu States where the President did not have ten percent of the votes?
“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?”
Wike urged political stakeholders to prioritise the presidential election before turning their attention to contests at the state level.
“After the President must have been reelected, we can all go and face elections in our states,” he said.
He stressed that his commitment was to mobilise support for Tinubu rather than secure electoral victories for candidates in other races.
“What I said and stand for is that I will mobilise support for the re-election of the President. I never promised anyone that PDP will not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and state house of assembly elections,” Wike said.
‘Rainbow Coalition Has Nothing to Do With APC’
Wike said the Rainbow Coalition was established in 2025 as a cross-party platform under the “Renewed Hope Family”, with members drawn from both the APC and PDP.
He said its primary purpose was to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election while allowing members to remain affiliated with and contest elections under their respective political parties.
“Most importantly, Rainbow Coalition has nothing to do with the APC. Rather, it is our own way of mobilising support across political parties for Mr President, who has done well to deserve a second term,” he said.
The clarification came amid heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 elections, with APC governors emphasising that their campaign commitment would remain tied to the party’s candidates, while Wike maintains that support for Tinubu can coexist with support for candidates from other parties in other elections.
