The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State and the FCT is primarily aimed at securing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in the 2027 general elections.
Wike stated this during a media parley in Abuja on Tuesday, where he dismissed concerns that the coalition could weaken the All Progressives Congress (APC) or create divisions among governors of the ruling party.
According to the minister, the initiative is designed to unite APC members and Tinubu supporters from other political parties behind a common electoral objective.
He stressed that the Rainbow Coalition was not established to replace the APC as the political platform through which Tinubu would seek re-election.
Instead, Wike explained that the arrangement provides room for politicians and supporters outside the ruling party to work alongside APC members towards securing another term for the president.
“If you see that word, PBT/APC, it means those who are supporting the president who are not members of the party, together with the party, are working together to achieve that purpose,” Wike said.
Wike Explains Rainbow Coalition’s Political Strategy
The former Rivers State governor, who coordinates the coalition’s activities in Rivers State and the FCT, maintained that Tinubu’s re-election remained its overriding priority.
Wike said the coalition was open to contributions from political stakeholders, regardless of their party affiliations, provided their efforts supported the president’s electoral ambitions.
“The major thing is Mr President. Whatever we are going to do, whoever has any idea or anything to contribute is to the success of Mr President. That is the whole thing,” he said.
He cited Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke as examples of political figures associated with the coalition’s state-level coordination.
Wike’s remarks underline the coalition’s stated approach of bringing together supporters from different political backgrounds while maintaining the APC as Tinubu’s re-election platform.
Minister Dismisses Concerns Over APC Governors
Wike also rejected suggestions that the Rainbow Coalition had unsettled APC governors or could trigger defections from the ruling party ahead of the 2027 elections.
“I don’t know what concerns there are. As far as I am concerned, there is no problem,” he added.
Using the FCT as an example, the minister explained that he had encouraged political stakeholders to support Tinubu and APC candidates contesting National Assembly seats while allowing supporters of other parties to back candidates of their choice at other levels.
He argued that political realities differ from one state to another, making it necessary to accommodate local interests while working towards a shared national objective.
According to Wike, cooperation among politicians across party lines is not new in Nigeria, although the Rainbow Coalition has made such arrangements more visible and formalised.
Wike Urges Nigerians to Assess Tinubu’s Performance
Beyond the coalition’s political objectives, Wike urged Nigerians to assess Tinubu’s administration based on its performance rather than allowing party affiliations to determine their judgment.
The minister’s comments come amid concerns within the APC over the Rainbow Coalition and its possible implications for the party’s electoral interests ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The coalition’s approach of accommodating politicians outside the ruling party has raised questions about how its activities will align with the APC’s broader campaign strategy.
Politics Nigeria had earlier reported that APC governors announced their position following a closed-door meeting in Abuja amid growing political activity surrounding Wike and the Rainbow Coalition.
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, said the governors were committed to strengthening the APC and protecting the electoral interests of the party and its candidates at all levels.
As preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum, the relationship between the Rainbow Coalition and the APC’s existing political structures is likely to remain a subject of attention.
For Wike, however, the coalition’s central objective is clear: bringing together supporters across party lines to work towards Tinubu’s re-election while preserving the APC’s position as the president’s political platform.