Wike defends Rainbow Coalition, clashes with APC governors over 2027

Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has publicly defended his cross-party Rainbow Coalition, insisting it exists to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu's 2027 re-election and is not a structure of the All Progressives Congress. The declaration on Monday, September 21, 2026, came amid a dispute with the Progressive Governors Forum, which opposes the coalition. Wike made the comments to journalists in Abuja after inspecting ongoing road projects, and later in a television interview. He stated his primary political concern is Tinubu's re-election and dismissed allegations that the coalition aims to destabilise political parties as baseless. The Progressive Governors Forum, chaired by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, has warned it will not support any arrangement capable of weakening the APC or its candidates in the 2027 elections. The forum alleged Wike is using the coalition to support politicians who lost APC primaries and are now contesting on the Peoples Democratic Party platform. During his television appearance, Wike directly addressed Uzodimma, declaring he would never support him to become Senate President in 2027.