morganABLE politics/elections
Wike argued that the fears expressed by some APC governors were misplaced, stressing that the coalition’s objective is limited to the presidential race
KaNo —
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed concerns raised by governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress over the proposed Rainbow Coalition, insisting that the alliance poses no threat to the party’s chances ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike’s remarks, delivered on Monday during an appearance on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout, have intensified an emerging rift between the minister and key figures within the APC, particularly members of the Progressive Governors Forum led by Hope Uzodimma.
The controversy centres on the Rainbow Coalition, a political arrangement Wike described as a strategic platform aimed at mobilising nationwide support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
According to the minister, the coalition does not require politicians to abandon their party affiliations or candidates in other electoral contests.
Wike argued that the fears expressed by some APC governors were misplaced, stressing that the coalition’s objective is limited to the presidential race.
He maintained that politicians could simultaneously support Tinubu while backing their respective party candidates in governorship and legislative elections.
“The coalition is about the presidency,” Wike said. “It does not stop anyone from contesting or supporting candidates under their own party platforms in other elections.”
His position comes in response to a recent resolution by APC governors, who declared that they would not support any political alliance capable of weakening the party or undermining its candidates at any level in the forthcoming elections.
Speaking after a meeting of the forum in Abuja, Uzodimma emphasised that the governors remained committed to supporting only APC candidates across board.
He warned that any arrangement that could dilute party loyalty or electoral cohesion would not be tolerated.
However, Wike countered that such rigid positions ignored Nigeria’s evolving voting patterns, where electorates have increasingly demonstrated the ability to split their votes across party lines.
To buttress his argument, the minister cited the experience of the G5 governors during the 2023 elections.
The group, which he led, openly supported Tinubu’s presidential ambition despite being members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
“In 2023, we supported Mr President, but we never said our party candidates in other elections would fail,” Wike said.
“In Rivers State, Tinubu won the presidential election, but the PDP won the National Assembly and state elections.”he added.
He argued that a similar political dynamic could play out in 2027, adding that Nigerian voters were sophisticated enough to distinguish between candidates and offices.
Wike further dismissed suggestions that such an arrangement could confuse voters, stating that the real challenge would be for candidates navigating dual loyalties rather than the electorate.
Beyond the policy disagreement, the FCT minister attributed the opposition of some APC governors to deeper political calculations, particularly concerns about the composition of the next National Assembly.
He alleged that certain governors were attempting to influence the emergence of the next Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives by controlling the selection of candidates during party primaries.
According to Wike, the strategy was aimed at ensuring that loyalists who would support the governors’ preferred candidates for leadership positions in the National Assembly emerged victorious.
“Governors want to produce senators and House of Representatives members they can dictate to,” he said. “That way, they can determine who becomes Senate President or Speaker.”
The minister warned that such plans could be disrupted if aggrieved aspirants who lost APC tickets defected to other parties, won elections, and refused to align with the governors’ agenda.
“The fear is that if those denied tickets go elsewhere and win, they won’t support the governors’ preferred candidates,” Wike added.
In a more pointed remark, the minister accused Uzodimma of harbouring ambitions to become Senate President after completing his tenure as governor of Imo State.
Wike suggested that the alleged ambition was influencing the stance of the Progressive Governors Forum on the Rainbow Coalition, claiming that some governors were being persuaded to support a strategy that ultimately served personal interests.
“He wants to leave office and go to the Senate,” Wike said. “And from there, he wants to become Senate President. So the plan is to ensure that governors produce lawmakers who will back him.”
The minister did not mince words in expressing his opposition to such a prospect, declaring that he would not support Uzodimma for the position under any circumstances.
“Life or death, I will never support a character like that to be Senate President,” Wike stated.
Despite the sharp criticism, he insisted that his position was not driven by personal animosity but by what he described as the need for transparency in political calculations ahead of 2027.
Wike also addressed reports suggesting that President Tinubu had agreed to concede nine states to the PDP or the Rainbow Coalition as part of a broader political arrangement.
He dismissed the claims as baseless, challenging those behind the reports to provide details.
“Which nine states? Did they tell you?” he asked. “Let us deal with facts, not speculation.”
The minister reiterated that his primary political objective remains securing Tinubu’s re-election, adding that he would campaign vigorously on the administration’s record.
He cited ongoing discussions around state police and what he described as efforts to devolve resources and powers to sub-national governments as key achievements that could appeal to voters.
“Mr President is showing what he has done,” Wike said. “We will campaign on that record and explain why he should be re-elected.”
He also disclosed that Tinubu was aware of the Rainbow Coalition and its objectives, suggesting that there was no need for the President to intervene in the dispute between coalition members and APC governors.
The unfolding disagreement highlights the complex political alignments already taking shape ahead of the 2027 elections, with alliances cutting across party lines and raising questions about party discipline and electoral strategy.
While APC governors have signalled a preference for strict party loyalty, Wike’s stance underscores a more flexible approach that prioritises strategic partnerships over rigid affiliations.
Political analysts say the clash reflects broader tensions within Nigeria’s political landscape, where individual ambitions and intra-party rivalries often shape electoral calculations as much as ideological considerations.
