The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed criticisms of the proposed Rainbow Coalition, insisting that the initiative is aimed at mobilising support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 and not at destabilising the All Progressives Congress.
Wike stated this on Monday in Abuja while speaking with journalists after inspecting ongoing road projects in the Federal Capital Territory, including the ISEX 2 project, Southern Parkway and the road linking Nile University to Ring Road 3 in Lugbe.
The minister’s comments came amid disagreements between supporters of the Rainbow Coalition and some APC governors, who have raised concerns about political arrangements they believe could affect the party and its candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
Wike, however, said his immediate political concern was the re-election of President Tinubu, stressing that he had made his position known from the outset.
“My concern is that the President will be re-elected for the second term. That is my concern. And I made that known from the onset that I was going to support Mr President with all my might and strength,” Wike said.
The former Rivers State governor rejected suggestions that the coalition was established to undermine the APC, arguing that its members were exercising their democratic rights by supporting the President across party lines.
He recalled the role of the G5 governors during the 2023 elections, questioning why a similar political arrangement was now being portrayed as a threat to the ruling party.
“It is not correct. I mean, we have not gone to anybody to say, ‘Don’t support anybody.’ We said all our party members, all those like-minds who are not APC members, to please ensure that they support Mr. President,” he said.
Wike said the Rainbow Coalition could strengthen Tinubu’s political support rather than weaken the APC, adding that the controversy surrounding the initiative was driven by issues he said he would subsequently explain.
“Why is it that nobody complained that it would destabilise the party? Did the President not win? Did it affect the APC controlling the National Assembly? It is something that will even give him an advantage,” he said.
The minister further suggested that there were other considerations behind the criticisms of the coalition, promising to disclose what he described as the “undertones” surrounding the controversy.
“What is the real cry about the Rainbow Coalition? The undertones. Nigerians don’t understand that there are undertones to it, and we will let the cat out of the bag so Nigerians will be well-informed about the so-called cry about Rainbow Coalition,” Wike said.
Wike also dismissed speculation that his activities were part of an attempt to position himself for the 2031 presidential election.
He questioned the basis of the speculation, noting that political calculations several years ahead could not be determined in advance.
“So, am I positioning myself… in which of the parties am I positioning myself to?” he asked.
The minister also said future political decisions would depend on circumstances and the will of God, while noting that President Tinubu would have an interest in determining who succeeds him after his tenure.
Meanwhile, Wike expressed satisfaction with the progress of several ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja, saying contractors had renewed their commitment to meeting agreed delivery timelines before the 2027 general elections.
He said the inspection was part of his routine monitoring of projects promised to residents of the FCT.
“I came back yesterday and, as usual, I have to go round to check the ongoing projects which were promised to residents of Abuja to be completed before the elections,” he said.
Wike disclosed that the contractor handling the High Court project, CGC, had reaffirmed its commitment to completing and handing over the project by December.
He also said work on the second bridge around the Gaduwa axis would accelerate after the rainy season, explaining that heavy rainfall had slowed the commencement of major earthworks.
At the Nile University–Ring Road 3 project, the minister said the contractor, CCECC, had committed to completing and handing over the road in the first week of January.
“I must say the management has committed itself that latest first week of January, they would have also handed over this project. So, I am very, very happy that we are on schedule, on course,” Wike said.
He said the renewed commitments by the contractors had eased concerns over the pace of work, expressing confidence that the projects would be delivered within the agreed timelines.
The minister’s comments came as the political debate over the Rainbow Coalition continues, with its supporters presenting it as a cross-party platform for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election, while some APC governors have expressed reservations about political arrangements outside the party’s formal structure.
