The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has responded to comments by Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, over his Rainbow Coalition, insisting that his commitment is to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 and not to prevent the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from fielding candidates in other elections.
Uzodinma had disclosed on Monday night that APC governors agreed to support only candidates sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The decision followed a meeting of APC governors at the Imo State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, after which Uzodinma, who chairs the Progressive Governors Forum, read the communique issued by the governors.
Wike, however, maintained that his Rainbow Coalition is separate from the APC and is intended to mobilise support for Tinubu across political parties.
In a statement issued through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike reiterated that his support for Tinubu’s re-election remains firm.
The former Rivers State governor recalled that he and other members of the G5 did not negotiate with the APC before supporting Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, saying the same approach would guide his position in 2027.
Wike also questioned the voting pattern in the 2023 elections, particularly in Imo, Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu states, where voters supported different parties in presidential and National Assembly contests.
The statement added, “In Imo State under Governor Hope Uzodinma, how did APC win two senate seats in 2023, in an election held the same day with that of the President and APC had less than 15 percent in the presidential election? Was it rainbow coalition? Were the voters confused?
“Was it rainbow coalition that also made APC to win National Assembly elections in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu States where the President did not have ten percent of the votes?
“If in 2023, the voters in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi voted APC in the Senatorial election and voted another party in the presidential election, they won’t be confused in 2027 provided we all support the president genuinely this time?
“After the President must have been reelected, we can all go and face elections in our States.
“What I said and stand for is that I will mobilise support for the reelection of the President. I never promised anyone that PDP will not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and States House of Assembly elections.
“Most importantly, rainbow coalition has nothing to do with the APC. Rather, it is own way of mobilising support accross political parties for Mr President, who has done well to deserve a second term.”