FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has continued to defend his support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid while maintaining that his political activities will not prevent the Peoples Democratic Party from fielding candidates in other elections.
Wike’s position comes amid growing disagreement between him and APC governors over the Rainbow Coalition, a cross-party political arrangement that he says will mobilise support for Tinubu while allowing politicians to retain their preferred candidates for governorship and legislative contests.
The minister dismissed concerns raised by APC governors about the coalition, arguing that supporting Tinubu for president should not automatically mean abandoning candidates from other parties in state and legislative elections.
Wike also rejected 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 2027 elections.
Challenging those behind the claim, Wike asked them to identify the states allegedly covered by such an agreement, insisting that the reported arrangement had not been established.
The FCT minister said his main political objective was to support Tinubu’s return to office and that he would campaign based on what he described as the administration’s record.
Among the issues he said he would highlight are Tinubu’s support for state police and what Wike described as the devolution of resources and powers to sub-national governments.
Wike further said Tinubu was aware of the Rainbow Coalition and understood his political activities. He maintained that he did not expect the President to intervene by bringing the coalition and APC governors together for a truce.
The disagreement followed a September 15 statement by the APC Governors Forum, which said its members would not participate in or support political alliances capable of undermining Tinubu’s re-election, weakening the APC or affecting the party’s candidates.
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, who presented the forum’s communique, said the governors’ campaign efforts would remain focused on APC candidates at all levels.
Wike has nevertheless continued to argue that the governors’ opposition to the coalition is influenced by their individual political interests. He had previously singled out Uzodimma and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq over their opposition to the arrangement.
The APC governors, for their part, have maintained that their position is intended to protect the party, its candidates and Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
Despite the disagreement, Wike said the Rainbow Coalition would continue its efforts to mobilise support for Tinubu across party lines, while distinguishing the presidential contest from governorship and legislative elections.
