2027: Wike Reveals Why APC Governors Are Opposing Rainbow Coalition …Says I’ll Never Support A ‘Character’ Like Uzodimma To Be Senate President

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, has alleged that the opposition of some All Progressives Congress (APC) governors to the proposed Rainbow Coalition is linked to their interest in controlling the emergence of National Assembly leaders after the 2027 elections.

Wike made the allegation on Monday while speaking on TVC’s Journalists Hangout programme in Abuja, amid growing disagreement between him and some APC governors over the coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The minister specifically mentioned Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, as well as Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, among those opposed to his political arrangement.

The disagreement has intensified after the APC governors declared that they would not support political alliances capable of undermining the party or its candidates in 2027.

Wike, however, insisted that his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election was separate from the contests for governorship and legislative seats.

He recalled that members of the G5 in 2023 supported Tinubu in the presidential election while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) retained its candidates for other elections.

According to him, the same principle could apply in 2027.

“In 2023, core leadership G5, we said we are going to support Mr. President. But we never said that all our candidates in other elections will fail. We never said so,” Wike said.

He added: “Particularly in Rivers State, we supported Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; he won the presidential election. But in National Assembly election and the state election, PDP won.”

Wike said he was,therefore, surprised by claims that the Rainbow Coalition would confuse voters, arguing that Nigerians had demonstrated in previous elections that they could vote for different parties at different levels.

The minister said a PDP candidate could support Tinubu for president while still contesting for the National Assembly or State House of Assembly under the PDP platform.

“Who will be more confused? Is it not my own candidates that will even be more confused when I’ve told them to support Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and then again, they now go back to support other candidates?” he asked.

‘Governors have their own interests’Wike alleged that some governors were using opposition to the Rainbow Coalition to pursue their own political interests, particularly regarding the next leadership of the National Assembly.

He said some governors wanted to influence the emergence of senators and members of the House of Representatives who would subsequently support their preferred candidate for Senate President or Speaker.

“APC in their ongoing party primaries, the governors, in their own wisdom, believe that they should be able now to put senators or House of Reps members who they will dictate to who will become the next Senate President or the Speaker,” he alleged.

Wike specifically accused Uzodimma of seeking to position himself for the Senate presidency after leaving office as governor.

According to Wike, the fear among some politicians is that politicians denied APC tickets could seek alternative platforms, including the PDP, and might subsequently refuse to support a candidate favoured by the governors for National Assembly leadership.

He said: “The fear now is that, if they run and they win, it means that they’re not going to support him to be the Senate President.”

Wike stressed that his opposition to Uzodimma’s reported Senate ambition was not personal but based on political considerations.

“I will never support a character of Hope Uzodinma to be Senate President of Nigeria. Everybody knows that,” he said.

Wike maintained that the Rainbow Coalition was not an APC structure and was not designed to undermine the ruling party.

He argued that politicians should be allowed to support Tinubu’s presidential bid while also contesting legislative and state elections on their respective party platforms.

“Where do you see that happen? Then, they will call me to tell me that we produce candidates of their party. Come on! Who does that?” he said.

The minister also dismissed allegations that Tinubu had agreed to concede nine states to him or the coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.

Asked about the alleged arrangement, Wike challenged those making the claim to identify the nine states involved.

“The nine states, did they tell you the nine states?” he asked the interviewer.

He said Nigerians deserved facts rather than speculation.

“Let us help Nigerians. Let’s get the facts. Who are… which are those states? Tell us that they said the President agreed with me that he’s conceding nine states,” Wike said.

He added that he was working with Tinubu to secure the President’s re-election and was focused on highlighting the administration’s policies and achievements.‘I am selling Tinubu’s record’.

Wike said his role in the emerging political arrangement was to mobilise support for Tinubu across political divides, stressing that he intended to campaign on what he described as the President’s record.

“Mr. President is showing his postcard. We are selling Mr. President what he’s been doing, why he should be re-elected,” he said.

He cited the Federal Government’s position on state police as one of the issues he would use in making the case for Tinubu’s re-election.

According to Wike, Tinubu’s support for state police represented a significant response to longstanding demands for reforms in Nigeria’s security architecture.

The FCT minister’s defence of the coalition comes against the backdrop of mounting disagreement between Wike and the APC governors.

The Progressive Governors’ Forum recently said its members would support Tinubu and APC candidates and would not endorse arrangements capable of weakening the party or its candidates.

Wike, however, has consistently maintained that his commitment is to Tinubu’s re-election and that he never promised that the PDP would abandon contests for governorship and legislative seats.