The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reaffirmed his commitment to the multi-party Rainbow Coalition, insisting that no one can stop the political platform from continuing to operate as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.
Wike made the declaration on Tuesday during a media chat with selected journalists in Abuja, where he defended his political position and maintained that his support for President Bola Tinubu’s second-term ambition does not amount to a commitment to any governor or political party.
The minister, who remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), explained that he had supported some candidates in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) despite belonging to an opposition party.
“What I’ve said to Nigerians and to Almighty God is, ‘I’m going to support Tinubu for him to realise his second-term ambition.’ I did not promise any governor. And two, let me tell you, no governor can say Wike has come to him for this and this,” he said.
Wike cited Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma as an example of a politician he had supported, warning against accusations that he had approached governors to solicit political favours.
“Some of the governors there, I supported him, but I gave this example now about Hope [Uzodimma of Imo State], so you know that people cannot just come and accuse you. I don’t do that. If you have any problem with me, come out back and face Wike. Don’t go on under the Rainbow Coalition,” he added.
Reaffirming his position on the platform, Wike declared: “For the Rainbow Coalition, it has come. It will stay. There’s nothing anybody can do about it.”
His comments come amid growing criticism from some APC governors, who have questioned his continued membership of the PDP while supporting Tinubu and maintaining links with politicians across party lines.
The governors have called on Wike to clarify his political allegiance, arguing that he cannot remain in the PDP while supporting the APC and other political parties. They have also urged him to leave the opposition party and formally join the ruling party if he intends to support its candidates.
Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal expressed the governors’ position during an interview on Channels Television’s Inside Sources, insisting that political loyalty should be clearly defined.
“Our message is very very clear: be on one side. You can’t be on two sides. If you are in APC, please come out and support the APC, not you are supporting APC here, and you are supporting some other political parties somewhere else,” Lawal said.
He maintained that the governors would continue to stand firmly behind the APC, regardless of Wike’s response to their criticism.
“We maintain our stand, and the message is very clear. He can speak; he can say whatever he wants to say, but our position has been very clear: APC all the way from head to toe,” he added.
The Rainbow Coalition is a cross-party political platform intended to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027. Wike has consistently maintained that his primary commitment is to helping the president secure a second term, rather than pledging his political loyalty to individual governors.
