David Umahi Affirms Ebonyi's Sole APC Loyalty, Shuns 'Rainbow Coalition'

The Minister of Works and former Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has firmly stated that there is no 'rainbow coalition' operating within Ebonyi. He reiterated the state's unwavering commitment to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its chosen candidates.

Umahi's declaration follows ongoing political friction between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and certain APC governors, particularly concerning political strategies for the 2027 general elections. The 'Rainbow Coalition,' a multi-party platform championed by Wike, aims to garner support for President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid in 2027. Wike has clarified that this coalition operates independently of the APC, allowing politicians from various parties to back Tinubu for president while retaining the autonomy to support or contest other elections.

Umahi made these remarks on Friday, September 25, 2026, during an inspection tour of the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway in Benue State. A press release issued the following day by Francis Nwaze, the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of Works on Media, confirmed that Umahi had assessed Section Two of the highway project in Ado and subsequently instructed contractors to accelerate the pace of construction.

Addressing inquiries about his relationship with Wike and speculations of him orchestrating a similar political arrangement in Ebonyi, Umahi stated, “If Wike has candidates here, he has not told me. And his candidate cannot break our relationship, but his candidate is not part of our relationship. There is no rainbow coalition in Ebonyi State.”

The former Ebonyi governor also reiterated his past criticisms of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), explaining that his departure from the party was due to its perceived failure to adequately address the interests of the South-East region. He remarked, “We supported PDP. We voted for presidents in PDP. And when it was our time for them to honour us, they did not honour us. They maltreated us.”

While affirming that individuals wishing to campaign in Ebonyi were free to do so, Umahi issued a strong caution against political actors engaging in hate speech or any actions that could incite public disorder. He warned, “Anybody that wants to campaign, come and campaign. But don’t dish out hate speeches and you want to take those speeches, and you want that we should lay a red carpet for you. We will not do that.” The minister further asserted, “Nobody can foment crisis in Ebonyi State.”

Umahi’s comments surface amidst the ongoing disagreements between Wike and some APC governors regarding the exact role of the Rainbow Coalition in the lead-up to the 2027 elections. Wike consistently argues that the platform is solely for mobilising cross-party support for Tinubu, not to supplant the APC. However, some APC governors remain wary of political structures they believe could potentially weaken their party or its candidates.

Furthermore, the minister connected his political endorsement of President Tinubu to the Federal Government's extensive infrastructure agenda. He dismissed accusations that he had unfairly concentrated federal projects within the South-East. Umahi countered, “I saw on social media where they say I cornered all projects to Southeast. That is very wonderful. But we have the publication of all projects ongoing by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, so they darken counsel without knowledge.” He questioned, “I’m not on my own. The President is my boss. So where will he be when I corner all projects to Southeast?”

Umahi clarified that the South-East is indeed benefiting from infrastructure developments as part of the Federal Government’s broader programme. He noted that while the region might not rank first, second, or third in project distribution, it would “definitely not be the last.” He urged Nigerians to evaluate the current administration based on concrete projects already underway, rather than relying solely on campaign promises. “We tell our story. It’s not a question of saying, ‘I will do this, I’ll do this.’ What about the one that the person is doing? Let us compare the past with the present,” he advised.

He highlighted the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway as a prime example of the Federal Government's ongoing projects. According to the minister, Section Two of this highway spans approximately 173.6 kilometres and has an estimated contract value of about N683 billion, while Section One is valued at roughly N454 billion.

During his inspection in Benue State, Umahi issued a specific directive to contractors: no buildings along the existing alignment should be demolished until the Federal Government concludes its review and, if necessary, adjusts the route. “My directive is that no building should be touched. Even if it’s within the alignment, I have to come and realign it. So you just have to continue your work and go around those buildings until we come to look at it,” he instructed. He also ordered contractors to accelerate construction and open additional sections of the highway, while engineers work to resolve issues surrounding the Ado Bridge, stating, “I do not believe in engineering that anything is impossible.” The minister reiterated his backing for Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election, attributing his stance to the President's policies and infrastructure initiatives.