The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, says he will disclose the reasons behind the opposition of Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, Hope Uzodimma, and Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to his Rainbow Coalition later on Monday.
Wike, who spoke on Monday after inspecting ongoing projects in Abuja, said the resistance to the coalition had nothing to do with concerns that the platform was designed to weaken the All Progressives Congress or undermine President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
The minister maintained that the Rainbow Coalition was established to mobilise support across political parties for Tinubu’s second-term bid, insisting that his primary political objective ahead of the 2027 election was to ensure the President returned to office. He said he had made his position in support of Tinubu clear from the beginning.
Wike said the coalition was open to APC members and politicians from other parties who shared the objective of supporting the President, stressing that backing Tinubu did not require political parties to abandon their own candidates in governorship or legislative elections.
His position contrasts with that of the APC governors, led by Uzodimma, who have said they would not support any political arrangement capable of weakening the ruling party or affecting its candidates in the 2027 elections.
The disagreement has also drawn AbdulRazaq into a public exchange with the FCT minister.
Wike, however, said Nigerians would understand the issues better after his television appearance, promising to reveal what he described as the “undertones” behind the opposition to the coalition.
“You will hear it today. What is the real cry about the Rainbow Coalition, the undertone,” he said, adding that he wanted Nigerians to be properly informed about the controversy.
The former Rivers State governor also dismissed speculation that his political activities were motivated by an ambition to contest the presidency in 2031.
Referring to his experience at the 2022 PDP presidential primary, where he finished second, Wike said future political decisions would depend on circumstances and that the priority for now remained Tinubu’s 2027 re-election.
Wike’s comments came after he inspected the ongoing ISEX 2 project, Southern Parkway and the road linking Nile University to Ring Road 3 in Lugbe.
He said the inspection was part of efforts to ensure that major projects promised to Abuja residents were completed within schedule ahead of the 2027 general elections.
