Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that the Rainbow Coalition could undermine President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, saying the initiative is intended to mobilise support for the President across political parties.
Wike made the clarification during a live interview on TVC on Monday night, insisting that Tinubu understands the purpose of the coalition.
According to the minister, the coalition is not designed to prevent its members from pursuing their political ambitions in governorship, National Assembly or State Assembly elections.
He said politicians could support Tinubu at the presidential level while retaining their party identities and contesting other positions.
Wike rejected the argument that supporting the President for a second term should require coalition members to surrender their ambitions for other elective offices.
The former Rivers State governor also dismissed reports that Tinubu had promised to concede nine states to him under the coalition arrangement.
Wike challenged those making the claim to identify the states allegedly covered by such an agreement, describing the report as propaganda.
He also alleged that some criticism of the Rainbow Coalition was politically motivated, particularly by individuals he associated with Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma.
Wike claimed that Uzodinma’s alleged interest in the Senate presidency after leaving office was behind some opposition to the coalition. The allegation was not shown in the report to have been confirmed by the Imo State governor.
Wike also cited Tinubu’s position on state police and devolution of powers as evidence of what he described as the President’s willingness to take decisions on issues previous administrations had avoided.
He said Tinubu’s support for considering state police demonstrated a readiness to strengthen sub-national governments and address security challenges.
The FCT minister further dismissed suggestions that his current political activities were aimed at positioning himself to succeed Tinubu in 2031.
He said the President’s re-election bid in 2027 and any future political ambitions were separate issues.
“By the grace of God, I don’t think there’s anything a politician wants today that President Tinubu has not made me to achieve,” Wike said.
Wike also criticised claims by Peter Obi and supporters of the “Obidient” movement that they secured victory in Rivers State, arguing that isolated polling-unit results could not determine the overall outcome of an election.
“They won in their imagination,” he said.
The minister said Rivers has more than 7,000 polling units across 23 local government areas, arguing that the final outcome must be based on the aggregation and declaration of results from the relevant polling units.
“Out of over 7,000 polling units, until all results have come in, even if 200 polling units come out and say Obi or Atiku has won, it does not convince me,” he said.
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Wike also referenced legal challenges that followed the 2023 election, asking whether his opponents were able to establish their alleged victory before the election tribunal.
“You can win on social media, but I am not interested in social media winning. I am interested practically in the results on the ground, who won, and who was declared,” he said.
On the political contest expected in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections, Wike dismissed suggestions that opposition forces were closing ranks against him.
He recalled his political contests since entering elective politics in 1999, including the 2015 and 2019 governorship elections, which he said were marked by significant opposition.
Wike also recalled that his late brother, Herbert Wigwe, advised him to leave Rivers State ahead of the 2019 election because of the political pressure surrounding the poll, but he declined.
The FCT minister said his political strength was based on his relationship with Rivers voters and his record in the state rather than support from Abuja or political alliances.
“Anybody telling you today that people are fighting me in Rivers and that it will be difficult, brother, I have never had an election that has been easy, but this one will be the easiest election as far as I know,” he said.
He added that his opponents would have to convince Rivers voters that supporting them would produce greater benefits than what they currently have
