FCT Minister Wike Allays APC Governors' Worries Over Rainbow Coalition

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has come out to defend the 'Rainbow Coalition' that is backing President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid. Wike dismissed concerns that this initiative could potentially create rifts within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to Wike, the coalition was strategically designed to bolster President Tinubu's electoral prospects by bringing together members of the APC alongside the President's supporters from various other political parties. The former Rivers State governor addressed the media on Tuesday in Abuja, clarifying that the initiative's primary goal is to mobilize broader support for Tinubu, rather than to undermine the ruling party.

“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 stated. He cited Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke as examples of prominent political figures associated with the coalition's state-level coordination, alongside himself.

Wike reiterated that the APC remains the official platform through which President Tinubu will seek re-election, while supporters from other political affiliations can still contribute towards achieving this common objective. He emphasized, “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.”

The minister also rejected any suggestions that the coalition had caused unease among APC governors or could trigger defections from the governing party. “I don’t know what concerns there are. As far as I am concerned, there is no problem,” he asserted.

Using the FCT as a practical illustration, Wike recalled how he had previously appealed to political stakeholders to support Tinubu and APC candidates for the National Assembly, while permitting supporters of other parties to back their preferred candidates at different levels. He noted that political circumstances vary significantly from one state to another, making it essential to accommodate local interests while pursuing a shared national goal.

According to Wike, effective political leadership requires persuading supporters from diverse backgrounds to embrace a unified objective. He further dismissed claims that such an arrangement is entirely new in Nigerian politics, arguing that political figures have historically supported presidential candidates outside their own parties while maintaining separate interests at the state level. However, he acknowledged that the current political environment has made such cooperative efforts more visible and formally structured.

The minister maintained that the coalition’s fundamental aim is to secure Tinubu’s re-election and to sustain what he described as the President’s achievements. He urged Nigerians to evaluate Tinubu’s performance based on its merits, rather than allowing partisan considerations to influence their judgment.