A fresh political disagreement has emerged between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and governors elected under the All Progressives Congress over the role of the Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The coalition has been presented by Wike as a multi-party platform for mobilising support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election.
However, APC governors have expressed opposition to political arrangements that could weaken the party or affect its candidates in the coming elections.
Wike Says Coalition Is Separate From APC
Wike has repeatedly said the Rainbow Coalition is not an APC organisation.
According to the minister, the platform brings together supporters from different political parties who want to back Tinubu at the presidential level.
He has also stated that the PDP can still field candidates for other elective positions in 2027.
Wike argued that voters can support one party’s presidential candidate and another party’s candidates in legislative or state elections.
APC Governors Take a Different Position
The APC Progressive Governors Forum has taken a different position.
Its chairman, Hope Uzodimma, said the governors would not participate in or support any political arrangement that could undermine Tinubu’s re-election, weaken the APC or affect the party’s candidates.
The forum said its campaign efforts would be directed towards APC candidates at all levels.
Aggrieved APC Members Enter the Conversation
Against this background, some APC members who are dissatisfied with party decisions and primary elections have reportedly shown interest in Wike’s coalition.
A senior APC figure quoted in the original report claimed that some party members who felt disadvantaged during the primaries were prepared to work with Wike while still supporting Tinubu.
Another party official reportedly said the presidential election remained the main concern for some aggrieved members, even where they might not support APC candidates in state-level contests.
Those statements were made by party sources who spoke anonymously and should therefore be understood as their accounts rather than independently verified evidence.
Political Alignments Ahead of 2027
The disagreement highlights the different political calculations taking place ahead of the 2027 elections.
Wike says his coalition is primarily focused on the presidential contest.
The APC governors, meanwhile, are insisting on support for the party’s candidates across the different levels of the election.
The issue is likely to remain a subject of political debate as parties and politicians continue to organise ahead of 2027.
