The political alliance being promoted by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, under the name “Rainbow Coalition”, has triggered a fresh disagreement with governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
The development has raised questions over the relationship between President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign, the APC’s formal structure and Wike’s cross-party political network.
The Progressive Governors’ Forum on Tuesday distanced itself from the coalition, saying its members would not support any political arrangement capable of weakening the APC, its candidates or the President’s re-election bid.
Wike, however, rejected the suggestion that the coalition was working against the APC, insisting that his support for Tinubu’s re-election was “sacrosanct”.
He also argued that the Peoples Democratic Party remained free to field candidates in other elections and maintained that the Rainbow Coalition was separate from the APC.
The disagreement centres on the possibility of politicians supporting Tinubu for president while backing candidates from other parties in governorship and legislative elections.
Such an arrangement could result in voters supporting different parties in the presidential and other elections, potentially creating tension between the interests of the coalition and those of APC governors.
Wike has argued that the Rainbow Coalition is designed to bring together politicians across party lines to support Tinubu without requiring them to leave their respective parties.
The arrangement could give Tinubu access to political structures outside the APC, particularly in states where opposition politicians have established grassroots networks.
However, the APC governors appear concerned that the coalition could create a parallel political structure that supports Tinubu at the presidential level while competing against APC candidates in other elections.
The issue has already generated political tension in states including Kwara, Rivers and Cross River.
In Rivers, Wike remains a member of the PDP while working with politicians from different parties in the coalition.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara has also aligned with Tinubu and the coalition following the prolonged political dispute between him and Wike.
The development has raised questions over how alliances involving politicians from different parties will operate when their interests clash during the 2027 elections.
For the presidency, the coalition could provide additional political support outside the APC structure.
However, disagreements with APC governors could create competing interests within the broader political structure supporting Tinubu.
APC chairman raises concern
The National Chairman of the APC, Nentawe Yilwatda, through his spokesman, Abimbola Tooki, expressed concern over the disagreement involving Wike and some APC governors.
Tooki said the party was concerned that the dispute should not affect Tinubu’s political prospects ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said while Wike’s political activities could be viewed as supportive of the President’s re-election bid, the APC did not want the disagreement to create divisions capable of affecting the party or its governors.
He cited reported disagreements involving Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Tooki said the APC leadership would continue to monitor the situation and urged stakeholders to focus on political stability and strengthening the party ahead of 2027.
PDP backs Wike
The Peoples Democratic Party described the reported rejection of Wike’s political support for Tinubu by the Progressive Governors’ Forum as a sign of anxiety within the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, the PDP said Wike had the democratic right to decide whom he wanted to support.
The party said Wike’s support for Tinubu did not amount to an endorsement of the APC or require him to abandon his political identity and relationships within the PDP.
It also rejected any suggestion that Wike should stop supporting candidates who may challenge APC governors or their preferred candidates.
“Elections are contests, and every political party has the democratic right to present candidates before the electorate,” the PDP said.
The opposition party alleged that the resistance to Wike’s political activities was driven by concerns over the performance of APC governors ahead of the elections.
It said governors confident of their records should allow their constituents to decide through the ballot.
The PDP also described Wike as an influential political figure whose support for Tinubu could contribute to the President’s campaign.
“The Minister of the FCT is not a liability to President Tinubu’s political project. He is undoubtedly an asset, a mobiliser and a force capable of contributing significantly to electoral victory,” the party said.
The Asiwaju Tinubu-Shettima Independent Support Movement has urged the APC to accommodate political alliances and support groups working for Tinubu’s re-election.
The group said the political landscape ahead of 2027 required cooperation among different political actors.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Musa Mohammed, the group said the APC remained Tinubu’s political platform but argued that support for his re-election should not be limited to the party’s formal structures.
It cited Wike’s Rainbow Coalition as an example of a political movement outside the APC that had openly expressed support for Tinubu.
The group urged the APC leadership to encourage political alliances supporting the President rather than viewing them with suspicion.
It said, “Rather than weakening or disowning such alliances, the APC leadership should encourage every genuine effort aimed at expanding the President’s support base and delivering victory for the Renewed Hope agenda in 2027.
An APC member in Lagos State dismissed the disagreement surrounding the Rainbow Coalition as part of the political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party member, who spoke anonymously, said disagreements were expected in a coalition involving politicians with different interests and ambitions.
He said disputes could arise over leadership, political structures, candidate selection and the sharing of political positions.
The APC member argued that the party should focus on governance and strengthening its structures rather than becoming distracted by disagreements within the wider political alliance.
Intersociety accuses six governors of intolerance
The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law, Intersociety, has accused six governors of political intolerance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group named Governors Peter Mbah of Enugu, Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra, Monday Okpebholo of Edo, Hyacinth Alia of Benue, Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi and Hope Uzodimma of Imo.
In a statement issued in Enugu and signed by its Head, Emeka Umeagbalasi, alongside human rights lawyers Chidinma Udegbulam and Joy Igboeli, the group alleged that opposition members in the states were being subjected to pressure through the use of government machinery.
Intersociety condemned what it described as political intolerance and said such actions were inconsistent with democratic principles.
The group also threatened to use its international networks to seek restrictions on the governors’ foreign trips and diplomatic engagements if, according to it, the alleged actions continued.
