Rainbow coalition is not an APC structure, I never promised Tinubu, APC that PDP won’t field candidates in 2027 – Wike replies APC Governors

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has responded to the position of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum on his “Rainbow Coalition”, insisting that his commitment is to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 and not to preventing other political parties from fielding candidates.

Wike’s position followed a resolution by APC governors that their members would not support political alliances or parallel structures capable of weakening the ruling party or undermining Tinubu’s re-election bid.

The resolution was announced by the Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, after a meeting of the governors in Abuja.

Uzodimma said the APC governors had resolved to focus on strengthening the party and supporting its candidates at all levels ahead of the 2027 general elections.

However, Wike, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, said on Tuesday that his support for Tinubu’s re-election remained “sacrosanct”.

Wike clarified that the Rainbow Coalition was not an APC structure, describing it as a platform through which politicians from different parties could mobilise support for Tinubu’s second-term bid.

He recalled that he and other members of the G5 did not seek the permission or support of the APC before backing Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election, saying the same principle would guide his political position in 2027.

According to Wike, supporting Tinubu for president does not mean that other political parties must abandon their candidates in governorship and legislative elections.

Taking a swipe at Uzodimma, the FCT Minister argued that political success was ultimately determined by the ability to mobilise voters and win elections at polling units.

He also cited the outcome of the 2023 elections in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi states as evidence that voters could support different political parties at presidential and legislative levels.

“In Imo State under Governor Hope Uzodinma, how did APC win two senate seats in 2023, in an election held the same day with that of the President and APC had less than 15 percent in the presidential election? Was it rainbow coalition? Were the voters confused?” the statement quoted Wike as saying.

He further pointed to APC victories in National Assembly elections in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu, despite the party recording relatively low presidential votes in those states.

“Was it rainbow coalition that also made APC to win National Assembly elections in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu States where the President did not have ten percent of the votes?” Wike asked.

He argued that voters were capable of making different choices in different contests and could do the same in 2027 while supporting Tinubu at the presidential level.

“If in 2023, the voters in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi voted APC in the Senatorial election and voted another party in the presidential election, they won’t be confused in 2027 provided we all support the president genuinely this time?” he said.

Wike maintained that his immediate political priority was to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election, after which politicians could focus on their respective state and legislative contests.

“After the President must have been reelected, we can all go and face elections in our States,” he said.

He stressed that he had never promised that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not field candidates in the 2027 governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.

“What I said and stand for is that I will mobilise support for the reelection of the President. I never promised anyone that PDP will not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and States House of Assembly elections,” Wike said.

He further reiterated that the Rainbow Coalition was separate from the APC and was intended to bring together political actors across party lines who support Tinubu’s re-election.

“Most importantly, rainbow coalition has nothing to do with the APC. Rather, it is own way of mobilising support accross political parties for Mr President, who has done well to deserve a second term,” the statement said.

The exchange highlights the emerging tension between efforts to secure cross-party support for Tinubu’s presidential bid and the APC’s desire to protect its candidates and electoral structure ahead of the 2027 elections.

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