2027: Wike, APC Governors Clash Over Rainbow Coalition

By Victor Idajili

A rift has emerged between FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress over Wike's Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 general election.

Wike, a PDP member serving in the APC-led Federal Government, is pushing the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers and other states to mobilize support for President Bola Tinubu's re-election in 2027, while keeping the PDP active for governorship and legislative contests.

The APC governors pushed back late Monday. Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, after a meeting in Abuja, said governors would not support any alliance that could undermine Tinubu's re-election or weaken the APC.

"The APC Governors Forum unanimously resolved that its members will not participate in, support or endorse any alliance or political arrangement capable of undermining the re-election of Mr President, weakening the APC or adversely affecting any candidate of the party at all levels," Uzodimma said, reading the communique.

He said the governors' campaign commitment is exclusively to APC candidates at all levels.

Wike defended the initiative on Tuesday. Through his media aide, Lere Olayinka, and in an interview on Arise TV Prime Time, he said the Rainbow Coalition is not an APC structure but a cross-party platform to support Tinubu because of his performance.

"I will mobilise support for the reelection of the President. I never promised anyone that PDP will not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly elections," he said.

Wike argued that supporting Tinubu for president does not mean supporting APC governorship and legislative candidates, noting that he remained in the PDP and was free to support candidates of his choice. He said politics is local and that governors should resolve their local issues instead of using Tinubu's re-election to whip up sentiments.

"What I said and stand for is that I will mobilise support for the reelection of the President... Most importantly, the Rainbow Coalition has nothing to do with the APC. Rather, it is our own way of mobilising support across political parties for Mr President," he said.

He cited 2023 results to make his point: "In Imo State, under Governor Hope Uzodimma, how did APC win two Senate seats in 2023, in an election held the same day with that of the President and APC had less than 15 per cent in the presidential election? Was it Rainbow Coalition?"

He added: "They are politically lazy. When you have your local problems, don't use Mr President as your excuse."

Wike also accused Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Uzodimma of being behind his political troubles, claiming the disagreement stems from the coalition's growing influence as it attracts PDP members and other politicians seeking to challenge APC governors for seats in 2027.

Some APC leaders who spoke on condition of anonymity said the clash is also about positioning for 2031 and control of the 11th National Assembly. According to them, both Wike and Uzodimma are seen to be expanding their political bases and eyeing the vice-presidential slot in 2031, with competition for closeness to Tinubu and influence over campaign funding and structure.

One source claimed Wike had at different times questioned governors' fundraising proposals to the President, while governors were uncomfortable that Wike was using federal influence to back PDP candidates against them in states like Kwara, Imo and Gombe.

They warned that if not resolved, the infighting could threaten Tinubu's 2027 bid.

The Wike-backed PDP faction defended the minister. Its Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, said Wike remains a political force that cannot be discarded. He said Wike's support is for Tinubu as President who appointed him, not for the APC as a party.

"It is a complete political misnomer for these governors to assume that the PDP, and indeed the minister, will not field candidates," Mohammed said.

Meanwhile, the PDP Interim NWC led by Tanimu Turaki mocked the APC. Its Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said, "They created a monster, that monster ended up in their belly," arguing that allowing Wike to work for an APC government while remaining in PDP was an anomaly that has now turned against the ruling party.

Ememobong said the Rainbow Coalition is anti-democratic and lacks ideological basis, warning it could harm democracy.

Efforts to get reactions from APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka and the Presidency were unsuccessful as at press time.