2027: Wike, APC govs clash over Rainbow Coalition

The growing rivalry among political actors ahead of the 2027 general elections, coupled with emerging ambitions for the 2031 presidency, has highlighted tensions between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and governors of the All Progressives Congress, with the development threatening to complicate President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Wike, who is serving in the APC-led Federal Government, has been promoting a Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State to support President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

In the late hours of Monday night, the Chairman of the APC’s Progressive Governors’ Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, in an indirect attack at Wike said the ruling party governors would not support any alliance or political arrangement capable of undermining the re-election of President Tinubu or weakening the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

Uzodimma maintained that the governors’ campaign commitment remained exclusively to APC candidates at all levels.

However, Wike defended his Rainbow Coalition, insisting that the alliance was aimed at supporting President Tinubu while strengthening the opposition Peoples Democratic Party against the APC in other electoral contests.

He said his support for Tinubu did not amount to supporting APC candidates across the states, stressing that he remained free to support candidates of his choice.

Meanwhile, the camp of the PDP Interim National Working Committee led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN) mocked Tinubu and the APC governors over the development, as the National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, added that the ruling party and the President would be consumed by the monster they created.

In a sharp response, the Wike-backed PDP defended the minister, describing him as a political force that could not be discarded. The party’s Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, in an exclusive interview with our correspondent, maintained that despite Wike’s support for Tinubu at the presidential level, the PDP remained committed to fielding candidates and contesting the 2027 elections.

Wike, who has been at odds with some APC governors, alleged during a recent media chat that Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Governor Uzodimma were behind his political troubles in Rivers State and some other parts of the country.

According to him, the disagreement stems from the expanding influence of the Rainbow Coalition, which he said was a platform for PDP members and other politicians seeking to challenge APC candidates for governorship and senatorial seats in the 2027 elections, a development he said was at odds with the interests of the governors.

Uzodimma, at the end of the governors’ meeting in Abuja late Monday night, stressed that they had not entered into any formal agreement with any individual or opposition party ahead of the election.

In what appeared to be an indirect response to Wike’s remarks and his moves to expand his political influence across the states, the APC governors declared that they would not entertain any arrangement that could create confusion, divided loyalty or competing interests within the party.

Uzodimma, who read the communique at the end of the meeting, said the forum’s primary focus was to support official APC candidates at all levels rather than promote external interests.

He stated, “The APC Governors Forum unanimously resolved that its members will not participate in, support or endorse any alliance or political arrangement capable of undermining the re-election of Mr President, weakening the APC or adversely affecting any candidate of the party at all levels.

“In other words, the forum has no intention to support any candidate at any level that is not an APC candidate because our candidates who are contesting the election are being sponsored by our party.

“The governors’ campaign commitment is exclusively to all APC candidates. All levels of the party campaign architecture will align with the expectations of Mr President and the strategic objectives of the party.”

Wike, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, on Tuesday reaffirmed his unwavering support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, noting that he never pledged to stop the PDP from fielding candidates in governorship, National Assembly and state assembly elections.

He clarified that the Rainbow Coalition was not affiliated to the APC but was a platform for political parties supporting Tinubu’s re-election and his administration’s achievements.

The minister noted that “politics is local and those having problems in their states should resolve them instead of using the reelection of the President to whip up sentiments.”

Wike said he never held discussions with the APC before he and other G-5 members backed President Tinubu in 2023, stressing that his support in 2027 is solely for the President.

He added that politics is no longer about finishing fourth and becoming governor, but about genuinely mobilising voters and winning elections from the polling units.

The FCT minister asked; “In Imo State, under Governor Hope Uzodinma, how did APC win two Senate seats in 2023, in an election held the same day with that of the President and APC had less than 15 per cent in the presidential election? Was it Rainbow Coalition? Were the voters confused?

“Was it Rainbow Coalition that also made APC win the National Assembly elections in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu states where the President did not have 10 per cent of the votes?

“If in 2023, the voters in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi voted APC in the senatorial election and voted another party in the presidential election, they won’t be confused in 2027 provided we all support the President genuinely this time?”

The minister urged all stakeholders to put the presidential election first, saying; “after the President must have been reelected, we can all go and face elections in our states.

“What I said and stand for is that I will mobilise support for the reelection of the President. I never promised anyone that PDP will not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly elections.

“Most importantly, the Rainbow Coalition has nothing to do with the APC. Rather, it is our own way of mobilising support accross political parties for Mr President, who has done well to deserve a second term,” he said.

​Also, Wike, in an interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time on Tuesday night, dismissed the governors’ concerns, arguing that his support for Tinubu did not mean he had abandoned the PDP.

“They (APC governors) are politically lazy. When you have your local problems, don’t use Mr President as your excuse,” Wike said.

He said the disagreements surrounding his political activities were not new, recalling that he had faced opposition from political actors while serving both as Rivers governor and FCT minister.

“This thing did not start today. It started at ministerial position. They were not happy that I was Minister of FCT. Also, they were unhappy when I was governor,” he said.

Wike also suggested that some of his critics lacked access to the information available to him on the political situation, saying they would have a different understanding of his activities if they knew what he knew.

“If they know what I know, they would not come out to shout,” he said.

The minister reiterated his support for Tinubu’s re-election, insisting that such support was separate from his activities within the PDP.

“I have said I will support the President and I am still supporting him. What has that got to do with my party?” Wike asked.

He also cited the political activities of Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo; Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke; and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, to argue that support for a presidential candidate did not prevent political parties from fielding candidates for other elective positions.

“Take Soludo, Adeleke and Otti. Does it mean that their parties will not present other candidates? This thing they are saying does not have any basis,” he said.

Chiding AbdulRazaq, Wike said “The governor of Kwara, so unforunate. Anytime he sees a snake, it’s Wike. Any day he doesn’t eat, it’s Wike. I never see people who will give time to gossip more than the work they have been given. He has three serving senators, he changed all of them. He has House Reps, he changeed all of them.”

However, credible APC leaders, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to comment on the matter, said the power struggle involving Wike, Uzodimma and others was largely driven by ambitions for the 2031 presidency, political dominance and control of the 11th National Assembly.

The sources warned that unless the growing infighting among the President’s allies was addressed, it could become a major threat to President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

One of the sources disclosed that Wike and Uzodimma were both working to expand their political influence and strengthen their positions ahead of the 2031 presidential race, particularly the vice-presidential contest.

He stated, “Wike, Uzodimma and some of them are strategising for the vice-presidential position. People have very tall ambitions. We are trying to go into the 2027 election, but people are positioning themselves for 2031 in 2026.

“The first problem was with regard to the position of each of them in relation to the President. Wike and Uzodimma have been at daggers drawn over their closeness to President Tinubu. Initially, all of them were angling for the position of Director-General of the campaign. At the end, none of them got it.

“Both men are seriously competing, and they are recruiting the President’s friends, supporters and party chieftains into their respective camps. You will recall what played out in Rivers State, where Uzodimma was supporting (Sim) Fubara and others working against Wike’s interests. In Imo State, Wike is supporting the likes of (Samuel) Anyanwu and others against Uzodimma’s interests.

“At the national level, the rivalry has also played out several times. For instance, Uzodimma and some other governors approached the President with proposals on how to raise funds for his re-election campaign. Wike subsequently went to the President and alleged that the governors were not to be trusted and could divert the funds, urging him to be cautious.

“So, this back-and-forth has been ongoing. You also recall that the Senate introduced a questionable amendment to its Standing Rules some time ago, which was later reviewed, it was done against Uzodimma’s Senate President ambition.”

He said the rivalry was largely driven by political ambitions for 2031 and control of the next National Assembly, as the actors seek to expand their influence beyond their respective states and geopolitical zones.

The source stated, “Ultimately, it is about political ambition. It is about 2031 and, of course, control of the next National Assembly. They are all trying to expand their influence beyond their respective states to their geopolitical zones and even beyond.

“You also have to understand that the APC governors have candidates to protect. Some of them are also senatorial candidates, while their parties have governorship candidates and other candidates contesting elective positions in their respective states. But Wike’s faction of the PDP is also fielding candidates, many of whom are perceived political opponents of these APC governors. Some of these politicians moved to Wike’s faction of the PDP, and the governors feel aggrieved by it.

“If you look at what is happening in Kwara State, for instance, the Saraki political dynasty is being emboldened and empowered, which could make the Kwara State governor feel threatened. The same situation is playing out in Imo, Gombe and several other states. The APC governors, under the leadership of Uzodimma, are therefore unhappy about the development.

“So, the dirty dealings are many. One person is hitting another, and the other is hitting back. Now, they are going to team up against Hope through Wike’s Rainbow Alliance. Yesterday, Hope met with the governors and they opposed the Rainbow Alliance because the alliance is principally aimed at tthwarting their interests. The whole thing is actually a fight for political positions. Hope wants to be Vice-President in 2031, and Wike also wants to be Vice-President in 2031. That is what is driving much of this rivalry.

“This infighting is also considered a threat to President Tinubu’s re-election unless he does something urgently to resolve it. If allowed to continue into the campaign period, it may affect the party and some of its candidates.”

Another APC source said the ongoing infighting was largely driven by political interests, with some governors unhappy that Wike, despite being a PDP member and serving in APC led federal cabinet, was using his influence and resources to mobilise politicians against them in various states, adding that the struggle was also part of efforts to position key actors ahead of the 2027 and 2031 elections.

He stated, “Of course, the infighting is about their political interests. Most APC governors are unhappy that Wike, a PDP member serving in an APC-led Federal Government, has been empowered by the President and is using the influence and resources available to him to mobilise politicians to contest for the State Houses of Assembly, Senate, House of Representatives and governorship positions in their respective states, mostly under the PDP, against the governors’ political interests.

“This is visible in many states, with Wike’s faction of the PDP accommodating APC members seeking to challenge serving governors. All these are part of the problem.

“Again, it is also about 2027 and 2031. Politicians plan early, and both Tinubu and Wike are positioning themselves strategically ahead of these elections so that discussions about the presidency will involve them and they can play a major role in key political decisions. It is also about the National Assembly leadership and who gets what in the next cabinet. That is probably the source of the problem.

“But we hope the President quickly swings into action and uses his influence to resolve the differences and bring them together in the interest of himself and his party. If not, it may affect everyone, including the party.”

Reacting, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, said Wike’s support for President Bola Tinubu should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the APC, stressing that the minister’s backing was for Tinubu as President.

Mohammed stated, “I think the issue, or rather the position of the minister to support Tinubu, has been mistaken to mean absolute support for the APC. The minister never said he was going to support the APC. Rather, he said his support is for Tinubu as his President and the person who appointed him to the present position he occupies. So, the feeling that the minister’s gesture of support will be extended to all of them across their states was where they got it wrong. It is important for the APC governors to know that Wike is a force to reckon with, not a force to be rejected.

“It is a complete political misnomer and miscalculation for these governors to assume that the PDP, and indeed the minister, will not field candidates, will not contest against the APC, and will not be able to win against the APC.

“The issue is not even about Wike as a person. It is about how comfortable Nigerians are, particularly with the governors. I am not trying to speak for the President, neither am I trying to speak for the minister. But, in all honesty, the President has given these governors all that is required for them to provide infrastructure and human capital development for the good of the people in their respective states.

“There has been an increase in federal allocations and the issue of financial autonomy for local governments. Yet these governors have muzzled the local government chairmen and refused to allocate or account for the billions of naira accruing to them in their respective states. They have failed to provide good governance and failed to deliver the dividends of democracy.”

PDP National Publicity Secretary said the APC governors were jittery because the PDP had fielded credible candidates capable of defeating them in 2027.

He urged the governors to focus on good governance rather than attacking Wike, noting that INEC’s publication of PDP candidates had proved the party would contest the elections.

Mohammed added, “Now that it is time for elections, they are afraid. The PDP has fielded credible and popular candidates with the capacity and credibility to defeat these APC governors. That is why they are crying wolf where there is none. That is why they are jittery.

“But I can tell you, if truly they are lovers of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and are concerned about the success and victory of their presidential candidate, then I do not see any reason why they would be pushing away a strong political phenomenon like Minister Wike.

“For us, if there is a way we can make the minister rescind his decision not to support our presidential candidate, we would be glad to do that. But we are only respecting his constitutional right to choose whoever he wants to support as a citizen of this country, particularly as an appointee of the President.

“When you compare the records of the minister when he was governor and now that he is a minister, his record is something that cannot be matched by any of these governors. So why are they scared? I will call on them to go back to their respective states, deliver the dividends of democracy, keep the people and account for their stewardship. That is when they can begin to say Wike is not going with us or not.”

On his part, the National Publicity Secretary of the Turaki Interim National Working Committee, Ini Ememobong, said the APC governors and the President created a monster that eventually turned against them by allowing Wike to work for an APC-led government while remaining a PDP member and allegedly acting against the interests of the PDP.

Ememobong stated, “They created a monster, that monster ended up in their belly. And so, the APC governors and the President, who were enjoying the anomaly that Wike constituted, working for an APC government while claiming to be PDP and, obviously, working against the interests of the PDP.

“At some point, they were excited about it, and today it is their turn to play in the belly of the monster. If the President does not intervene and bring this to a stop, he will also end up in the belly of the monster. It is only a matter of time.

“Politics is not just a practice; it is also a field of study. Therefore, practice must follow theory, and there is no theory that can support what is being presented as political practice in Nigeria.”

“When people talk about the Rainbow Coalition, what is it? You belong to a political party. That political party has an ideology and a structure, and it goes from the top to the bottom. There is no ideology called a Rainbow Coalition. It is anti-democratic, and it may lead to the collapse of democracy.”

Efforts by our correspondent to reach the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, his deputy, Duro Meseko, and the Presidency were unsuccessful, as they did not respond to calls as at the time of filing this report.