By Philip Yatai
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has accused several All Progressives Congress (APC) governors of opposing the proposed Rainbow Coalition to protect their personal ambitions, specifically controlling the leadership of the National Assembly following the 2027 general elections.
Speaking Monday on TVC’s Journalists Hangout in Abuja, Wike singled out Imo State Governor and Progressive Governors’ Forum Chairman, Hope Uzodimma, alongside Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, as key figures opposing his political strategy.
The rift deepened after APC governors declared they would not support any political arrangement capable of undermining the ruling party or its candidates in 2027.
However, Wike argued that supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election is distinct from state and legislative contests.
He pointed to the 2023 elections, where the G5 governors backed Tinubu for the presidency while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fielded and won candidates for other offices, as a working template.
“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,” Wike said.
“Particularly in Rivers State, we supported Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; he won the presidential election. But in the National Assembly election and the state election, PDP won.”
Wike dismissed claims that split-ticket voting under a Rainbow Coalition would confuse voters, arguing Nigerians have already proven they can differentiate between presidential and down-ballot races.
Governors’ Personal Ambitions
Wike alleged that the opposition to the coalition stems from governors seeking to handpick lawmakers who will later back their preferred candidates for Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives.
He specifically accused Governor Uzodimma of maneuvering to position himself for the Senate Presidency after his current term ends.
According to Wike, the governors fear that politicians denied APC tickets might defect to alternative platforms—such as the PDP—win their elections, and refuse to back the governors’ choice for National Assembly leadership.
“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 said, adding that his opposition to Uzodimma’s reported ambition is purely political.
“I will never support Hope Uzodinma to be Senate President of Nigeria. Everybody knows that.”
Wike insisted the Rainbow Coalition is not an official APC structure and was never intended to undermine the ruling party.
He also refuted allegations that President Tinubu agreed to concede nine states to him or the coalition ahead of 2027.
“The nine states, did they tell you the nine states? Let us help Nigerians. Let’s get the facts. Tell us that they said the President agreed with me that he’s conceding nine states.”
Wike emphasized that his role in the cross-party arrangement is to mobilize broad support for the President based on tangible achievements, citing Tinubu’s endorsement of state police as a key selling point for security reform.
“Mr. President is showing his postcard. We are selling Mr. President what he’s been doing, why he should be re-elected,” Wike said.
While the Progressive Governors’ Forum maintains that its members will exclusively support APC candidates across all levels, Wike reiterated that his primary commitment is securing Tinubu’s return to office without requiring the PDP to abandon legislative and state contests.
