The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended his proposed Rainbow Coalition after APC governors rejected any political arrangement they believe could weaken the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The disagreement followed comments by Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, who said APC governors would remain committed to supporting candidates sponsored by the party at all levels.
Uzodimma said the governors would not participate in or endorse any alliance capable of undermining President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid or weakening the APC.
However, Wike, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, maintained that the Rainbow Coalition was established to support Tinubu’s presidential bid and was not an APC structure.
He explained that supporting Tinubu for the presidency did not mean supporting APC candidates contesting governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives or state assembly elections.
Wike also argued that members of the coalition remained free to support candidates of their choice in other elections, insisting that the APC governors’ position had no basis.
The FCT minister cited the 2023 elections involving candidates such as Abia State Governor Alex Otti, Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke to support his argument that voters could support different parties at different levels.
The development has further exposed differences among political actors as parties and political groups begin preparations for the 2027 elections.
