Wike Dismisses Fears Rainbow Coalition Could Divide APC Over Tinubu’s Re-Election

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed concerns that the emerging Rainbow Coalition backing President Bola Tinubu’s re-election could create divisions within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Wike said the initiative was designed to bring together APC members and supporters of the president from other political parties, rather than weaken the ruling party.

He spoke on Tuesday during his monthly media parley in Abuja, where he explained that the coalition’s primary objective was to support Tinubu’s re-election bid by expanding his support base beyond the APC.

The minister, who coordinates the coalition’s activities in Rivers State and the FCT, said the arrangement allowed people with different political affiliations to work towards a common goal.

“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 said.

Wike Says Tinubu’s Re-Election Is the Priority

Wike maintained that the APC remained the platform through which Tinubu would seek re-election, while supporters outside the party could contribute to the campaign.

He said the coalition was focused on the president’s electoral ambition and was not intended to challenge the ruling party’s position.

“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,” he said.

The minister also rejected suggestions that the coalition had unsettled APC governors or could trigger defections from the party.

“I don’t know what concerns there are. As far as I am concerned, there is no problem,” he said.

Coalition Reflects Different Political Interests

Wike explained that political circumstances varied across states, making it necessary to accommodate local interests while maintaining a shared objective of supporting Tinubu.

He argued that political leadership often involved persuading people from different backgrounds and parties to work together, adding that the coalition reflected an effort to widen support for the president.

The FCT minister also disputed suggestions that cross-party cooperation in presidential elections was entirely new to Nigerian politics.

He noted that political figures had previously supported presidential candidates outside their parties while maintaining separate political interests at the state level.

However, Wike said the current political environment had made such cooperation more visible and formalised through the emerging coalition.

Wike Urges Nigerians to Assess Tinubu’s Performance

Wike said the coalition’s central objective was to secure Tinubu’s re-election and sustain what he described as the president’s achievements.

He urged Nigerians to assess the administration’s performance on its merits rather than allow partisan considerations to determine their judgment.

His remarks come as political activities and alignments begin to take shape ahead of the 2027 general election, with the proposed Rainbow Coalition seeking to bring together supporters of Tinubu from within and outside the APC.