2027: Wike, APC Governors Clash Over Rainbow Coalition

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has intensified his disagreement with APC governors over the proposed Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.

Wike, who spoke on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout, dismissed concerns that the coalition could weaken the ruling All Progressives Congress, insisting that its primary objective is to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.

He argued that politicians could support Tinubu for President while backing candidates of their preferred parties in governorship and legislative elections.

Wike cited the experience of the G5 governors in the 2023 elections, when members of the group supported Tinubu’s presidential bid while their respective parties retained candidates for other elective positions.

The FCT Minister said the same arrangement could apply in 2027, insisting that Nigerian voters were capable of making different choices across electoral contests.

His position directly contradicts that of the APC Governors Forum, which recently declared that its members would neither participate in nor support any political alliance capable of weakening the party or undermining its candidates.

The forum, chaired by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, said its support would remain exclusively with APC candidates at all levels.

Wike, however, alleged that the opposition of some APC governors to the Rainbow Coalition was motivated by their political interests, particularly their desire to influence the composition of the next National Assembly.

He specifically accused Uzodimma of positioning himself for the Senate presidency after leaving office, an allegation the Imo governor has not publicly endorsed.

Wike said some governors were concerned that politicians who failed to secure APC tickets could defect to opposition parties, win their elections and subsequently refuse to support candidates favoured by the governors for leadership positions in the National Assembly.

The minister also declared that he would not support Uzodimma for Senate President, saying his position was based on political calculations rather than a personal disagreement.

Wike maintained that his continued membership of the Peoples Democratic Party did not prevent him from supporting Tinubu’s re-election.

He also dismissed reports that President Tinubu had agreed to concede nine states to the PDP or the Rainbow Coalition as part of a political arrangement, challenging those making the claim to identify the states involved.

Wike said his immediate political objective was to campaign for Tinubu’s re-election based on what he described as the administration’s achievements, including its position on state police and the devolution of powers and resources to sub-national governments.

He further disclosed that President Tinubu was aware of the Rainbow Coalition, insisting that the initiative was not designed to take over or weaken the APC.

The dispute has widened following the APC governors’ September 15 resolution rejecting alliances that could affect the party’s candidates or undermine Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Wike had previously accused Uzodimma and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of leading opposition to the coalition.

The APC governors, however, have maintained that their position is intended to protect the party, its candidates and the President’s re-election campaign.

Meanwhile, efforts to obtain a reaction from APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls placed to his phone.

Sources within the ruling party say the APC National Working Committee is working to broker a truce between the opposing camps.

The move is expected to gain momentum following the return of APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda from vacation, with the party expected to engage the Presidency and other stakeholders on resolving the disagreement ahead of the 2027 elections.