A recent communique released by APC governors under the Progressive Governors Forum has denounced the Rainbow Coalition engineered by Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, as counter-productive to the APC campaign strategy. The coalition, a broad-based support group, was formed by Wike during the 2023 presidential election to support then-candidate Bola Tinubu. The APC governors, including Hope Uzodinma of Imo and Abdurahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara, claim that the coalition would confuse voters during the upcoming election.
The concept of the Rainbow Coalition was inspired by the late Reverend Jesse Jackson, an African American civil rights activist who ran for the US Presidency in the 1980s. Wike's coalition voted en masse for Tinubu in Rivers State but allowed members to vote their individual preferences in down-ballot elections. Wike never presented the coalition as a rival political party and emphasized that he would remain in the PDP while working against Abubakar Atiku. The coalition's activities have been beneficial to Tinubu, with Wike delivering on his promise to secure votes for the APC candidate in Rivers State.
The criticism from APC governors has raised questions about their motives, particularly given their past actions. In 2023, Wike used a similar strategy to secure votes for Tinubu in Rivers State, a traditional PDP stronghold. The APC governors seemed unconcerned at that time, but now they claim that the Rainbow Coalition would be a parallel political outfit that would confuse voters. President Tinubu has maintained a close relationship with Wike, who has continued to dedicate himself to supporting the president's electoral prospects.
The irony of the situation is that while President Tinubu's electoral prospects appear stronger now, the same cannot be said of his governors. Their bad behavior in office, incompetence, and high-handedness have undermined the electoral fortunes of viable APC aspirants. In Kwara and Imo states, the governors are crying out against the Rainbow Coalition, which provided refuge for disenchanted aspirants excluded by the governors. Some of these aspirants have become threats to the state governors, contributing to their vocal opposition to the coalition.
The APC governors' claims that voters would be confused by the Rainbow Coalition are seen as an insult to the intelligence of Nigerian voters. Nigerians have been voting for various candidates from different parties for decades, and it is unclear why the governors believe voters would be confused now. Wike has called the governors "politically lazy," and it is clear that they have not been able to project the administration as effectively as he has.
Wike's extraordinary performance at the FCT has made him the positive face of the APC-led Tinubu government, despite remaining a PDP member. The governors' exaggerated sense of self-importance is exposed by the fact that Wike has promoted President Tinubu's leadership more effectively than all of them combined. Tinubu, a seasoned political tactician, recognizes Wike's electoral utility and has maintained a close relationship with him.
Ultimately, the criticism from APC governors may stem from their own concerns about their electoral viability. If they had done their best in their respective domains with the allocations they receive from FAAC, the Tinubu re-election campaign would likely be easier. Wike, on the other hand, has been doing the "dirty job" of promoting the administration and supporting Tinubu's leadership, demonstrating his value to the APC.
Key points
- APC governors criticize Wike's Rainbow Coalition, citing potential voter confusion
- Wike's coalition delivered votes for Tinubu in Rivers State during the 2023 presidential election
- Wike has become the positive face of the APC-led Tinubu government despite being a PDP member
