2027: Wike, APC Governors Clash Over Rainbow Coalition

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has disagreed with some All Progressives Congress governors over the proposed Rainbow Coalition, insisting that the group is focused on mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

Wike made this known on Monday during an appearance on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout, where he discussed the coalition, the position of APC governors and political arrangements ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The minister said supporting Tinubu for president would not stop politicians from backing candidates of their preferred parties in governorship and legislative elections. He argued that the presidential election could be treated separately from other contests on the ballot.

Wike also alleged that some APC governors were opposing the coalition because of their political interests, particularly their desire to influence who emerges as the next Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

He specifically mentioned Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, alleging that the governor was positioning himself to become Senate President after leaving office.

The comments came shortly after APC governors declared that they would not support any alliance or political arrangement that could weaken the party, affect its candidates or undermine Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

Uzodimma, who presented the position of the APC governors, said the forum would support only candidates contesting under the APC in the coming elections.

Wike, however, maintained that the Rainbow Coalition could support Tinubu for president while allowing its members to support candidates from different political parties in other elections.

He referred to the activities of the G5 governors during the 2023 elections, when members of the group backed Tinubu for president while their political parties continued to field candidates for governorship and National Assembly elections.

The FCT minister said a similar arrangement could happen in 2027, arguing that voters were capable of making different choices in presidential, governorship and legislative elections.

Wike further alleged that some APC governors were worried that politicians who failed to secure the party’s tickets could move to other platforms, contest elections and win. According to him, such politicians might then refuse to support candidates preferred by the governors for leadership positions in the National Assembly.

He linked this concern to the reported ambition of Uzodimma to become Senate President after completing his tenure as Imo governor.

Wike alleged that some governors were seeking to influence the selection of senators and members of the House of Representatives in order to have a say in the emergence of the next leaders of the National Assembly.

He also stated that he would not support Uzodimma’s reported ambition to lead the Senate, while insisting that his position was based on the political issues involved rather than a personal disagreement.

The disagreement between Wike and some APC governors has developed as political parties and groups begin preparations for the 2027 elections. Wike remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party but has openly supported Tinubu’s re-election.

The minister said his decision to support Tinubu did not mean that the PDP or other parties should abandon their candidates in governorship and legislative contests.

Wike also dismissed reports that Tinubu had agreed to concede nine states to the PDP or the Rainbow Coalition as part of a political arrangement ahead of the elections. He challenged those making the claim to identify the states allegedly covered by such an agreement.

According to the minister, his main political objective ahead of the 2027 election is to campaign for Tinubu’s return to office. He said he intended to base his campaign on the administration’s record, including its position on state police and the transfer of some powers and resources to state governments.

Wike also said Tinubu was aware of the Rainbow Coalition and understood his activities within the group. He maintained that the coalition was not created to take over or weaken the APC but to mobilise support for the President across political lines.

The disagreement followed the September 15 position of the APC Governors Forum, which stated that its members would not participate in or endorse any alliance capable of weakening the party, affecting its candidates or working against Tinubu’s re-election.

Uzodimma had said the governors’ campaign support would be reserved for APC candidates at all levels.

Wike, however, has continued to argue that the Rainbow Coalition can support Tinubu at the presidential level without preventing politicians from supporting candidates of other parties in state and legislative elections.

The minister had previously accused Uzodimma and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of leading opposition to the coalition. The APC governors have rejected that interpretation, maintaining that their position is aimed at protecting the party and its candidates while supporting Tinubu’s re-election.

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

Sources within the APC, however, told The PUNCH that the party’s National Working Committee was working to resolve the disagreement between the parties involved.

The sources said the party was considering a meeting involving its leadership and the President in an effort to settle the disagreement before the 2027 elections.

The expected peace efforts are linked to the return of APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, who was away on vacation and was expected back soon.

According to the party sources, his return would allow the National Working Committee to begin discussions on how to resolve the disagreement and maintain unity ahead of the polls.