The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has made allegations that some All Progressives Congress (APC) governors are opposing the proposed Rainbow Coalition due to their interest in controlling the emergence of National Assembly leaders after the 2027 elections. Wike made these allegations on Monday while speaking on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout programme in Abuja. He specifically mentioned the Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, and the Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, among those opposed to his political arrangement.
The disagreement between Wike and some APC governors intensified after the APC governors declared that they would not support political alliances capable of undermining the party or its candidates in 2027. Wike, however, insisted that his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election was separate from contests for governorship and legislative seats. He recalled that members of the G5 in 2023 supported Tinubu in the presidential election while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) retained its candidates for other elections.
Wike added that the same principle could apply in 2027, saying that in Rivers State, they supported Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; he won the presidential election, but in the National Assembly election and the state election, PDP won. He said he was surprised by claims that the Rainbow Coalition would confuse voters, arguing that Nigerians had demonstrated in previous elections that they could vote for different parties at different levels.
According to Wike, a PDP candidate could support Tinubu for president while still contesting for the National Assembly or State House of Assembly under the PDP platform. He asked who would be more confused, noting that his own candidates would even be more confused when he told them to support Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and then again, they now go back to support other candidates.
Wike alleged that some governors were opposing the Rainbow Coalition to pursue their own political interests, particularly regarding the next leadership of the National Assembly. He said some governors wanted to influence the emergence of senators and members of the House of Representatives who would subsequently support their preferred candidates for Senate President or Speaker.
Wike specifically accused Uzodimma of seeking to position himself for the Senate presidency after leaving office as governor, saying the fear among some politicians is that those denied APC tickets could seek alternative platforms, including the PDP, and might subsequently refuse to support a candidate favoured by the governors for National Assembly leadership. Wike stressed that his opposition to Uzodimma’s reported Senate ambition was not personal but based on political considerations.
The FCT Minister maintained that the Rainbow Coalition was not an APC structure and was not designed to undermine the ruling party. He argued that politicians should be allowed to support Tinubu’s presidential bid while also contesting legislative and state elections on their respective party platforms. Wike also dismissed allegations that Tinubu had agreed to concede nine states to him or the coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
Key points
- Wike alleges APC governors oppose Rainbow Coalition to control National Assembly leadership.
- Wike insists support for Tinubu's re-election separate from contests for governorship and legislative seats.
- Wike accuses Uzodimma of seeking Senate presidency after leaving office as governor.
