The battle for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election structure has exploded.
Several state chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have rejected the Rainbow Coalition being promoted by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, with party leaders telling the former Rivers Governor to formally defect to APC if he is genuinely committed to Tinubu.
The reactions followed a renewed confrontation between Wike and APC Governors over who controls the political machine for Tinubu’s second term.
Why APC Is Angry
Wike is still a PDP member serving in an APC government. Tinubu appointed him FCT Minister after the 2023 election, despite his PDP presidential bid.
His Rainbow Coalition* model is simple: support Tinubu for President, but be free to support any party for Governor, Senate and Assembly.
APC Governors say that is impossible.
“Our message is very, very clear: Be on one side. You can’t be on two sides. If you’re in APC, please come out and support APC. You can’t support APC here and other political parties somewhere else. It doesn’t make sense,” Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal said in an interview with Channels TV at the UNGA81 in New York.
Lawal added: “APC all the way from head to toe. He can speak, he can say whatever he wants to say, but our position has been very, very clear. It’s either he’s in APC or he’s out.”
Lawal said he will personally raise the matter with President Tinubu when he returns from vacation in France.
*State Chairmen Speak*
– Imo APC: Publicity Secretary Jones Onwuasoanya said: “Decency demands that an individual who claims allegiance to the philosophies of a party should fully align with that party, rather than playing hide and seek. If Wike is sincere about his support for Tinubu, then he should join the APC and campaign for our party across all positions.”
– Gombe APC: Urged Wike to complete his transition to the ruling party.
– Ebonyi: Minister of Works David Umahi, former ally of Wike, said: “There is no Rainbow Coalition in Ebonyi State. If Wike has candidates here, he has not told me. And his candidate cannot be part of our relationship.”
The Progressives Governors Forum chaired by Imo Governor *Hope Uzodimma* had earlier met in Abuja and declared they will not support any arrangement capable of weakening APC or undermining any APC candidate.
Uzodimma, Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun have been named by Wike as those fighting his coalition.
Wike, however, insists the coalition has Tinubu’s blessing and will bring non-APC votes for Tinubu. On Friday he vowed to lead Tinubu’s campaign in Rivers and FCT.
For now, the message from APC is blunt: *Defect fully or leave us alone.*
