The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has alleged that some All Progressives Congress (APC) governors oppose the proposed Rainbow Coalition because they want to influence the emergence of National Assembly leaders after the 2027 general elections.
Wike made the allegation on Monday while speaking on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout programme in Abuja, amid disagreements over political alliances ahead of the 2027 elections.
The minister specifically mentioned Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, among those opposed to the political arrangement.
Wike said the governors’ opposition was linked to concerns that politicians who failed to secure APC tickets could contest on alternative platforms and subsequently influence the composition and leadership of the National Assembly.
He maintained that his support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election was separate from contests for governorship and legislative seats.
Wike recalled that members of the G5 governors supported Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) retained its candidates for other elections.
“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. We never said so,” he said.
He added that in Rivers State, the G5 supported Tinubu for president while the PDP won the National Assembly and state elections.
Wike said the experience showed that voters could support different political parties in presidential, legislative and governorship elections.
He argued that a PDP candidate could support Tinubu for president while contesting for the National Assembly or State House of Assembly under the PDP platform.
“Who will be more confused? Is it not my own candidates that will even be more confused when I’ve told them to support Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and then again, they now go back to support other candidates?” he asked.
Governors have their own interests.
Wike alleged that some governors were using their opposition to the Rainbow Coalition to advance their political interests, particularly over the next leadership of the National Assembly.
He said some governors wanted to influence the emergence of senators and members of the House of Representatives who would support their preferred candidates for Senate President or Speaker.
“APC, in their ongoing party primaries, the governors, in their own wisdom, believe that they should be able now to put senators or House of Reps members who they will dictate to who will become the next Senate President or the Speaker,” he alleged.
Wike specifically alleged that Uzodimma was positioning himself for the Senate presidency after leaving office as governor.
According to Wike, politicians who were denied APC tickets could seek alternative platforms, including the PDP, and might subsequently refuse to support candidates preferred by the governors 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,” he said.
Wike said his opposition to Uzodimma’s reported ambition was based on political considerations rather than personal differences.
“I will never support a character of Hope Uzodinma to be Senate President of Nigeria. Everybody knows that,” he said.
Wike maintained that the Rainbow Coalition was not an APC structure and was not designed to undermine the ruling party.
He argued that politicians should be allowed to support Tinubu’s presidential bid while contesting legislative and state elections on their respective party platforms.
The minister also dismissed allegations that Tinubu had agreed to concede nine states to him or the coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
Asked about the alleged arrangement, Wike challenged those making the claim to identify the nine states involved.
“The nine states – did they tell you the nine states?” he asked.
He said Nigerians deserved facts rather than speculation.
“Let us help Nigerians. Let’s get the facts. Which are those states? Tell us that they said the President agreed with me that he’s conceding nine states,” Wike said.
‘I am selling Tinubu’s record.’
Wike said his role in the emerging political arrangement was to mobilise support for Tinubu across political divides, adding that he would campaign on what he described as the President’s record.
“Mr President is showing his postcard. We are selling, Mr President, what he’s been doing and why he should be re-elected,” he said.
He cited the Federal Government’s position on state police as one of the issues he would highlight in support of Tinubu’s re-election.
According to Wike, Tinubu’s support for state police represented a response to longstanding calls for reforms to Nigeria’s security architecture.
The FCT minister’s comments came amid disagreements over political alliances ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Progressive Governors’ Forum has maintained that its members would support Tinubu and APC candidates and would not endorse arrangements capable of weakening the party or its candidates.
Wike, however, maintained that his commitment was to Tinubu’s re-election and that he had not promised that the PDP would abandon contests for governorship and legislative seats.
