Wike Sends Fresh Message to Governors Over Rainbow Coalition

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has urged governors supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election to adopt his Rainbow Coalition model.

According to the minister, the arrangement could prevent political violence and promote cooperation among politicians ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Wike made the appeal on Friday during an interactive engagement with political leaders, traditional rulers, women and youths in Kuje Area Council of the FCT.

Wike said the Rainbow Coalition has created an opportunity for members of different political parties to work together in pursuit of common objectives without allowing party affiliations to generate hostility, division or violence.

He argued that politicians should be able to support the same candidate and work towards a shared political goal regardless of their membership of different parties, adding that such cooperation would help reduce confrontations among political supporters.

“If Nigerian politics can come to this level, we will not be hearing about fighting; we will not be seeing ourselves killing one another,” Wike said.

The former Rivers State governor maintained that the political arrangement had demonstrated the benefits of bringing politicians together rather than allowing partisan disagreements to undermine peaceful political participation.

He explained that the coalition had brought together members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the FCT, adding that a similar arrangement was being implemented in Rivers State.

Wike said the model would also ensure that candidates emerging from the arrangement received support from stakeholders across party lines, arguing that political representation should be based on the interests of the people rather than party membership alone.

He cited former FCT Senator Philip Aduda as an example, saying the politician enjoyed support beyond the APC because of his relationship with stakeholders within the broader coalition.

According to Wike, the arrangement was designed to promote inclusive political participation and encourage elected representatives to remain connected to the communities they represent.

The minister also warned residents of Kuje against repeating what he described as a political mistake in the 2023 elections, urging them to consider accessibility, accountability and performance before deciding who should represent them in 2027.

He questioned the relationship between the current senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, and residents of the territory, alleging that she had not adequately engaged communities to understand their concerns.

Wike contrasted the senator with Aduda, whom he described as a politician familiar with the everyday challenges facing the people.

“Aduda knows them. Aduda knows when they have problems. Aduda knows when they are sleeping, and Aduda knows when they are crying. That is the essence of representation,” the minister said.

He further urged residents to avoid entrusting their future to politicians he described as “political gamblers”, insisting that voters should assess candidates based on their records rather than promises made during election campaigns.

Nyesom Wike; Hope Uzodimma

Wike’s latest appeal comes amid disagreements between him and some APC governors over the Rainbow Coalition, which he has been promoting as a platform to mobilise support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Although Wike remains a member of the PDP, he has openly declared his support for Tinubu’s re-election, arguing that the president can attract supporters from different political parties without requiring them to abandon their existing affiliations.

The arrangement has, however, drawn criticism from some APC governors, who believe politicians working for the president’s re-election should openly identify with the ruling party rather than maintain membership of opposition parties.

The minister had recently challenged governors opposed to his political arrangement to confront him directly instead of attacking the coalition.

During a media parley with selected journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, Wike defended his decision to support Tinubu while remaining in the PDP, insisting that his political commitment was based on his personal conviction.

“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 also dismissed suggestions that he was seeking political favours from APC governors, maintaining that his support for Tinubu did not amount to an obligation to any governor within the ruling party.

He cited his previous support for some APC candidates despite his PDP membership, arguing that his political decisions should not be interpreted as an attempt to undermine the ruling party.

“If you have any problem with me, come out back and face Wike. Don’t go on under the Rainbow Coalition,” the minister said.

He added, “For the Rainbow Coalition, it has come. It will stay. There’s nothing anybody can do about it.”

This article first appeared on Politics Nigeria: https://politicsnigeria.com/2026/10/23/wike-sends-fresh-message-to-governors-over-rainbow-coalition/

The post Wike Sends Fresh Message to Governors Over Rainbow Coalition appeared first on Politics Nigeria.