APC governors have nothing to fear over Rainbow Coalition – Wike

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has quelled fears among APC governors over the emerging Rainbow Coalition backing President Bola Tinubu's re-election. Speaking during a media forum in Abuja, Wike emphasized that the coalition is meant to broaden support for the president, transcending party affiliations.

Coordinated by Wike in Rivers State and the FCT, the coalition includes APC members and Tinubu's supporters from other political parties. Wike clarified that the Rainbow Coalition aims to strengthen the president's re-election bid, not to undermine the All Progressives Congress (APC). He reiterated that the APC remains the platform for Tinubu's re-election, with supporters from other parties contributing to the same objective.

Wike dismissed concerns that the coalition might unsettled APC governors or provoke defections, stating that he sees no issues. He noted that political dynamics vary across states, necessitating accommodation of local interests while pursuing the shared goal of Tinubu's re-election. Wike argued that political leadership involves persuading diverse supporters to work towards a common goal, emphasizing the coalition's role in expanding support beyond traditional party boundaries.

He debunked the notion that the arrangement is novel to Nigerian politics, pointing out that political figures have supported presidential candidates outside their parties in the past while maintaining separate state-level interests. Wike made it clear that the coalition's primary objective is to secure Tinubu's re-election and uphold the president's achievements, urging Nigerians to evaluate the president's performance based on its merits rather than partisan considerations.