Wike said he never promised that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not field candidates for governorship and legislative elections in 2027.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has made it known that his face-off with some All Progressives Congress (APC) governors ahead of the 2027 general election stemmed from Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State’s alleged ambition to become Senate President.
The former Rivers State governor made the claim on Monday in Abuja while appearing as a guest on the TVC News programme, Journalists Hangout.
Earlier, the APC Governors’ Forum, led by Uzodimma, had distanced itself from the coalition founded by Wike, arguing that its activities could undermine the political ambitions of some party members.
The APC governors insisted that they would support President Bola Tinubu and candidates of the ruling party in the 2027 elections, rather than arrangements they believe could undermine the party or its candidates.
Also wading into the saga, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Adeniyi Adegbonmire, said the political alliance linked to Wike has no place in the ruling party.
However, while reacting to the controversy surrounding the formation of the Rainbow Coalition, the FCT Minister insisted that their opposition to the proposed political arrangement—especially by Uzodimma and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq—is driven by the governors’ desire to control the emergence of the next leadership of the National Assembly.
He maintained that his support for Tinubu’s re-election was distinct from contests for governorship and legislative seats, arguing that politicians could support the President while contesting other elections on different party platforms.
ALSO READ: UNGA no-show: Nigeria must not pay for Tinubu’s American baggage – Atiku
He cited the experience of the G5 governors in the 2023 presidential election, when members of the group supported Tinubu while their parties’ candidates contested legislative and state elections.
“Particularly in Rivers State, we supported Tinubu, and he won the presidential election. But in the National Assembly election and the state elections, PDP won,” he added.
Wike further said he was disappointed by claims that the coalition could destabilise the ruling party, insisting that its objective was simply to support Tinubu’s second-term bid.
“My concern is the President’s re-election for a second term. I made it known from the onset that I was going to support the President with all my might,” he said.
The minister recalled that he and other G5 governors had supported Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election without entering into an arrangement with the APC, questioning why similar concerns were not raised at the time.
According to him, it was premature for politicians to begin making plans for an election several years away, stressing that the primary consideration should be whether one would be alive when the time comes.
