Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has clarified that the Rainbow Coalition is focused on mobilising support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 and has no formal ties with the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Wike said his support for Tinubu’s second-term bid should not be interpreted as support for the APC in other elections. He explained that politicians within the coalition remain free to pursue their respective party interests in governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.
The FCT minister was reacting to concerns from APC governors, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, over political arrangements that could create parallel structures or undermine Tinubu’s re-election campaign. Wike maintained that the coalition was not created to take over or weaken the APC.
Wike also questioned the voting patterns recorded in the 2023 presidential election, citing states such as Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi, where APC candidates won legislative seats despite Tinubu recording relatively low presidential votes. He asked whether such voting patterns should be blamed on the Rainbow Coalition or simply reflected voters making different choices in separate elections.
He stressed that his immediate political objective is to mobilise votes for Tinubu’s return as president, while politicians should handle their individual state contests separately. Wike also urged politicians facing political challenges in their states not to use Tinubu’s re-election campaign to settle local political disputes.