September 21, (THEWILL) – The political battle over the structure and beneficiaries of the emerging 2027 pro-Tinubu coalition has intensified, with some states beginning to respond to the public tiff between Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and APC state governors over the structure for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
In Bayelsa State, where there has been a long- standing political dispute between defecting governor, Duoye Diri and Wike, the state Chairman of the APC stated at the weekend that the party has nothing to do with the Wike-led coalition. In Rivers State, where the Minister wields the political big stick, some members of the coalition have voted with their feet.
The state party chairman, Warman Weri Ogoriba, said the “Rainbow Coalition” in the state lacks the organisational capacity and grassroots support to deliver nominated APC candidates in the 2027 general election.
Ogoriba said APC has an established presence across the state’s eight local government areas and political wards, adding that it would not be distracted by political alliances outside its fold.
“The task before the party is to remain organised, disciplined and committed to the collective objective of advancing the APC and supporting its candidates at all levels.
“We are confident that the combination of the party’s existing structures, committed members, stakeholders and grassroots networks would provide the foundation for a strong electoral campaign in 2027,” he said.
In Rivers State, a former South-South Zonal Vice Chairman of LP, Mr Favour Reuben, alleged that the LP governorship candidate recognised by the coalition is a PDP member, while an Ogoni rights activist, Dr Celestine Akpobari, criticised the coalition as non-inclusive, saying it favours only Ikwerre ethnic nationals.
He said, “I have never seen a rainbow with one colour. APC chairman is Ikwerre, PDP chairman is Ikwerre, governorship candidates of APC, PDP and Labour are all Ikwerre. Where is the rainbow?” he queried.
According to him, the Ogoni people have never had the chance to produce a governor, deputy governor, Speaker or Chief Judge in the state, pointing out that, “What is a rainbow coalition that has one colour.”? he queried.
However, an ex-President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide and 2023 Labour Party governorship candidate in Bayelsa, Engr. Udengs Eradiri, described Wike’s Rainbow Coalition as an unshakable political network that cuts across political interests and should be seen as an added advantage to Tinubu’s re-election, not a threat to APC governors.
In Ebonyi State, Governor Francis Nwafiru warned the Wike-led coalition to steer clear of the state during the campaign for the upcoming general election, adding that he has the capacity to “destroy the coalition and its supporters.” This pattern of challenge is expected to grow in the coming months after the governors and Wike openly clashed over the platform to support Tinubu’s re-election.
THEWILL gathered that many of the governors have resolved to muscle the coalition in their respective states, leaving Rivers State as the only turf for the minister to operate. But sources say, Wike is up to the task of checkmating the antics of the governor. The coming crisis will continue to be on the front burner as personal differences, varied interests and mutual suspicion between Wike and many of the APC governors are driving their disagreement.
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Reacting to the development, a Professor of Political Science, Sylvester Odion-Akhaine in an interview with a national newspaper warned both parties to be careful in handling the matter. According to him, trying to build the Rainbow Coalition, thinking that the ruling party will sink itself in it, will not work. “If you read the body language of the governors of the ruling party, they are in no way going to tolerate external infusion into the party’s politics. We have to watch it very carefully, because whatever you say about Nigerian politics, governors are the leaders of the party in their various states. And they have control over the electoral process. You ignore them at your own peril. That is why the intrusion of Wike must be carefully managed so that it doesn’t affect the party. My advice to Wike is that, since he is supporting the President, his constituency is not Nigeria.”
Expectedly, President Tinubu intervene in the matter at the weekend. He appointed Wike as head and coordinator of Rivers and FCT campaign for his re-election. However, trouble started during a meeting in Abuja last week when governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) resolved that they would not participate in, support or endorse political alliances or arrangements capable of undermining Tinubu’s re-election, weakening the APC or adversely affecting the party’s candidates at any level.
The governors also pledged to take charge of Tinubu’s 2027 campaign structures across their respective states and align the party’s campaign machinery with the President’s re-election bid and the broader objectives of the APC.
Although the governors did not expressly name Wike or the Rainbow Coalition in their resolution, their position has been widely viewed against the background of the cross-party political arrangement, the Rainbow Coalition, being championed by the FCT Minister and other political actors to mobilise support for Tinubu while allowing politicians to pursue their own political interests at state and legislative levels.
Wike later responded that the governors should “go and face” their state elections, while making it clear that his Rainbow Coalition is not a vehicle for delivering victories to APC candidates.
Wike, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, on Tuesday declared that his political commitment for 2027 is to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election and not to candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) contesting governorship, National Assembly or State House of Assembly seats.
Wike, however, rejected any suggestion that supporting Tinubu must translate into supporting APC candidates in other elections.
According to the former Rivers State governor, politicians who are facing battles in their states should resolve those problems themselves rather than attempt to use Tinubu’s presidential re-election bid as a means of securing support for their local candidates.
“I won’t be the one to help people win elections in their states. Politics is local. Those having problems in their states should resolve them instead of using the President’s re-election to whip up sentiment”, Wike said.
He maintained that there was no agreement between him and the APC before he and other members of the G5 governors’ group backed Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.
“I never met with the APC before other members of the G5 and I supported the President in 2023. For 2027, my support is for the President only”, he said. Wike also rejected the impression that the Rainbow Coalition was created as an alternative APC structure or as a mechanism to weaken the ruling party.
“Most importantly, the Rainbow Coalition has nothing to do with the APC. Rather, it is our way of mobilising support across political parties for Mr President, who has done well and deserves a second term”, he stated.
Wike also dismissed what he described as an old-fashioned approach to politics in which politicians expect to become governors simply by attaching themselves to influential national figures or political arrangements.
“Politics is no longer about coming from fourth place to become governor. It is about genuinely mobilising support and winning elections from the polling units”, he added.
Wike urged politicians to first concentrate on ensuring Tinubu’s return to the Presidency before turning their attention to their individual state and legislative contests.
“After the President has been re-elected, we can all go and face elections in our states. What I said, and what I stand by, is that I will mobilise support for the re-election of the President. I never promised anyone that the PDP will not field candidates for governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections”, he emphasised.
The statement amounts to a rejection of any expectation that his support for Tinubu should extend to an electoral pact with APC candidates across the country.
Wike went further by challenging Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodimma, to explain the voting pattern that produced APC victories in the state’s National Assembly elections in 2023 despite the party’s relatively weak presidential showing.
He specifically pointed to APC’s victory in two senatorial seats in Imo during the 2023 elections, when Tinubu reportedly secured less than 15 per cent of the presidential vote in the state.
“In Imo State under Governor Hope Uzodimma, how did the APC win two Senate seats in 2023, in an election held the same day as the presidential election, when the APC had less than 15 percent in the presidential election? Was it a rainbow coalition? Were the voters confused?” Wike asked.
He extended the argument to other South-East states, including Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu, where voting patterns in the presidential and legislative contests also differed.
Wike questioned whether the APC’s legislative victories in some of those states could be attributed to the kind of cross-party mobilisation now being criticised by some APC leaders.
“If in 2023 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 genuinely support the President this time”, he concluded.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
