FCT Minister Nyesom Wike challenges APC governors over Rainbow Coalition, says he never promised PDP won't field candidates
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike taunted APC governors, including Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma, over their opposition to the Rainbow Coalition aimed at supporting President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re‑election.
In Brief
- •FCT Minister Nyesom Wike taunted APC governors, including Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma, over their opposition to the Rainbow Coalition aimed at supporting President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re‑election.
- •Wike clarified he never promised that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would refrain from fielding candidates in the 2027 elections.
- •He questioned the ability of APC governors in Imo, Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu to deliver votes for Tinubu, noting the party’s sub‑15% presidential vote share in those states in 2023 despite winning Senate seats.
- •The APC Governors Forum, chaired by Hope Uzodimma, warned the coalition could undermine the APC’s chances in the 2027 elections.
- •Wike made the remarks in a statement released via his senior special assistant and in an interview with Arise Television’s Politics Today.
Why It Matters
The clash highlights deepening fissures within Nigeria’s ruling coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential election, as the president’s own party grapples with internal dissent and competing regional interests. By mobilising a "Rainbow Coalition" that cuts across party lines, Wike seeks to bolster Tinubu’s vote base, while APC governors fear the arrangement could dilute their electoral advantage. If the dispute escalates, it could reshape campaign strategies, affect candidate selections for the National Assembly, and influence voter perceptions of party unity, all of which are critical factors in a tightly contested 2027 race.
Key Details
- Minister
- Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory
- Date of remarks
- 15 September 2026
- APC Governors Forum chair
- Hope Uzodimma (Imo State Governor)
- Tinubu's 2023 presidential vote share in Imo
- <15%
- APC Senate seats won in Imo (2023)
- 2
Context & Background
The "Rainbow Coalition" is a political arrangement promoted by Minister Wike to rally support for President Bola Tinubu’s re‑election in 2027. The coalition has been opposed by the APC Governors Forum, which fears it could erode the APC’s electoral prospects ahead of the next presidential poll.
Original Reporting & Sources
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