By Asaye Bankole
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended the Rainbow Coalition supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, insisting that the initiative is designed to strengthen the President’s electoral chances rather than create divisions within the All Progressives Congress.
Wike said the coalition brings together APC members and supporters of Tinubu from other political parties to pursue a common objective ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The former Rivers State governor spoke during a media parley in Abuja on Tuesday, where he explained that the arrangement was intended to broaden support for Tinubu without undermining the ruling party.
According to him, the coalition provides a platform for politicians and supporters outside the APC to work alongside party members towards securing the President’s re-election.
“If you see that word, PBT/APC, it means those who are supporting the president who are not members of the party, together with the party, are working together to achieve that purpose,” Wike said.
He cited Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke as examples of political figures associated with coordination efforts at the state level, alongside himself.
Wike maintained that the APC remained the platform through which Tinubu would seek re-election, stressing that supporters of other political parties could also contribute to the President’s electoral campaign.
“The major thing is Mr President. Whatever we are going to do, whoever has any idea or anything to contribute is to the success of Mr President. That is the whole thing,” he said.
The minister dismissed concerns that the coalition had unsettled APC governors or could trigger internal disagreements within the ruling party.
“I don’t know what concerns there are. As far as I am concerned, there is no problem,” he stated.
Using the Federal Capital Territory as an example, Wike explained that political arrangements could vary from one location to another, depending on prevailing circumstances and the interests of local stakeholders.
He recalled appealing to political leaders and supporters to back Tinubu and APC candidates for the National Assembly while allowing individuals to support candidates of their choice in other elections.
According to him, such arrangements reflect the realities of Nigeria’s political environment, where politicians may cooperate on certain electoral objectives while maintaining different affiliations at other levels.
Wike argued that political leadership requires the ability to persuade people from different backgrounds and parties to work towards a shared goal.
He also rejected suggestions that the Rainbow Coalition represented an entirely new development in Nigerian politics, noting that politicians had previously supported presidential candidates outside their political parties while pursuing separate interests at the state level.
However, he observed that the current political environment had made such cooperation more visible and formally organised.
The FCT minister reiterated that the coalition’s primary objective was to secure Tinubu’s re-election and sustain what he described as the President’s achievements.
He urged Nigerians to evaluate the administration’s performance on its merits rather than allow party affiliations to determine their assessment of the President.
Wike’s remarks come as political parties and their supporters begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections, with different political groups seeking alliances and broader support for their preferred candidates.
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