The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has strongly criticised the Progressive Governors Forum’s warning against the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State, calling their stance baseless and unfounded. Speaking on Tuesday during an interview with Arise Television’s Politics Today, Wike dismissed claims that the coalition could threaten President Bola Tinubu’s chances in the 2027 presidential election. He argued that supporting the president does not automatically mean a governor must abandon support for candidates from other political parties in legislative elections.
The Progressive Governors Forum, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, had recently issued a statement cautioning that the Rainbow Coalition — a grouping of opposition parties in Rivers State — might weaken the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections. Uzodimma specifically highlighted concerns that the coalition could divert votes and create division within the ruling party’s structure at the national level.
Wike challenged this narrative by pointing to examples from other states where governors aligned with the APC are still backing candidates from different parties in the National Assembly elections. He cited Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo, who supports President Tinubu but also backs candidates from the APGA party in legislative races. Similarly, he referenced Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, who endorses Tinubu yet supports Accord Party candidates for the National Assembly.
He further mentioned Abia State Governor Alex Otti, noting that despite his public support for Tinubu, there is no reason why the Labour Party should be excluded from fielding candidates in the upcoming elections. According to Wike, these examples prove that the notion of a unified political front under the APC is misleading and politically driven rather than fact-based.
The FCT Minister emphasized that democracy allows for diverse political expressions, even among leaders who share common goals at the presidential level. He stressed that governors have the right to support candidates across party lines without compromising their loyalty to the president or the APC.
His remarks come amid growing political tension as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 elections, with various coalitions and alliances being formed across states. The Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State, which includes the Labour Party, the Social Democratic Party, and others, is seen as a significant challenge to the APC’s dominance in the region.
As political positioning intensifies, Wike’s comments underscore the complexity of Nigeria’s multi-party system and the need for pragmatic governance over rigid party loyalties. The debate over coalition politics may continue to shape the electoral landscape in the coming years.
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