A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Joe Igbokwe, has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to engage with APC governors and explain the purpose of his proposed Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Igbokwe made the call against the backdrop of growing disagreements between Wike and members of the APC Governors’ Forum over the political initiative.
The APC Governors’ Forum, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, recently said its members would not support any political arrangement that could weaken the APC, affect its candidates or undermine President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Wike, however, has maintained that the coalition is primarily intended to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election while allowing different political parties to field candidates for governorship and legislative elections.
Reacting to the controversy, Igbokwe described Wike as an important political figure whose influence should not be ignored.
He nevertheless questioned the timing and approach of the Rainbow Coalition, arguing that the minister should consult with APC governors and clarify his intentions.
According to Igbokwe, disagreements among political stakeholders should be addressed through dialogue rather than public exchanges.
He urged Wike to meet with the governors, listen to their concerns and explain how the coalition would operate without creating conflicts within the ruling party.
The APC chieftain’s comments followed Wike’s criticism of the APC governors, whom the minister recently described as “politically lazy” over their opposition to his political initiative.
Wike has also insisted that he never approached the APC Governors’ Forum seeking an alliance. He said his commitment was to support Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election and argued that such support should not prevent other political parties from contesting governorship and legislative seats.
The minister further maintained that the Rainbow Coalition has no formal connection with the APC and was created as a broader political platform to mobilize support for Tinubu across party lines.
The disagreement has generated debate within the ruling party over how support for Tinubu at the presidential level can coexist with support for candidates from other political parties in state and legislative elections.
With political activities ahead of the 2027 elections gathering momentum, the positions of Wike, the APC governors and other political stakeholders are likely to remain a subject of discussion as parties and political groups work to consolidate their support bases.
