Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi Sokoto, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Sokoto state, has described the Rainbow Coalition as part of Nigeria's long history of political alliances. He urged Nigerians to support it as a platform to ensure a free, fair and credible election in 2027. Abdullahi made this statement in a release issued on Tuesday in Sokoto.
Abdullahi defined coalition as an arrangement where different political groups or parties agree to work together toward a common objective while maintaining separate political identities. He noted that from the First Republic to the Fourth Republic, such arrangements have shaped the country's democracy. According to him, what changes are the names, personalities, circumstances, and objectives behind them.
The PDP governorship candidate recalled that the First Republic (1959-1966) witnessed a coalition between the Northern People's Congress (NPC) and the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC). This coalition produced Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as Prime Minister and Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe as Governor-General and later President. He also cited the Second Republic (1979-1983), which saw the NPN-NPP accord between the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) under President Shehu Shagari and the Nigerian People's Party (NPP).
Abdullahi further cited the AD-APP joint presidential ticket of Chief Olu Falae and Umaru Shinkafi in 1999. He also mentioned the activities of the Coalition of Progressive Political Parties (COP3) ahead of 2015 over election postponement and PVC issues. Additionally, he referenced the major opposition merger of ACN, CPC, and ANPP into the All Progressives Congress (APC) that led to the victory of Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.
The Sokoto PDP candidate said the debate surrounding the Rainbow Coalition should be viewed within Nigeria's historical context of coalitions and realignments. He called on patriotic Nigerians to support the Rainbow Coalition towards a credible poll. FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has described the Rainbow Coalition as a multi-party platform mobilising support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's re-election in 2027.
Abdullahi listed key achievements of the Tinubu administration, including diplomatic restraint as ECOWAS Chairman after the Niger Republic coup. He also mentioned proactive foreign relations to protect Nigeria's international standing, the Sokoto-Badagry Highway project, and youth-focused interventions like the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the CNG initiative.
Abdullahi called on APC Governors and party leaders to adopt a pragmatic approach and work with Wike, whom he described as "a national leader and proven grassroots strategist." He emphasized that the primary challenge today is not debating individual political relevance, but ensuring that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu secures a decisive victory come 2027.
Key points
- The Rainbow Coalition is part of Nigeria's history of political alliances.
- The coalition is a multi-party platform mobilising support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's re-election in 2027.
- The Sokoto PDP candidate urged Nigerians to support the Rainbow Coalition for a free, fair and credible 2027 election.
