APC Tensions Grow Over Wike’s Rainbow Coalition In SouthEast

APC Tensions Grow Over Wike’s Rainbow Coalition in South-East

Tensions within the All Progressives Congress APC have intensified over the political activities of Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike, who remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP while publicly supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid. The latest disagreement centres on Wike’s proposed “Rainbow Coalition”, which seeks to bring together politicians across party lines in support of Tinubu while allowing participants to retain their separate political identities and interests. The APC leadership in the South-East has rejected Wike’s coalition, describing it as a “rainbow (chameleon) coalition” and declaring its support for the party’s Progressive Governors and candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.The position was contained in a joint statement signed by APC National Vice Chairman, South-East, Dr Ijeomah Arodiogbu, and the party chairmen in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states. The leaders endorsed the position of the Progressive Governors’ Forum PGF that APC candidates should receive the support of the party at every level, from the presidency to the state Houses of Assembly. They also criticised Wike over his recent comments about APC governors, calling on him to withdraw what they described as attacks against members of the PGF. The dispute reflects a broader concern within the APC that Wike’s cross party mobilisation could create political structures operating alongside, or in competition with, the party’s established organisation. The Renewed Hope Ambassadors coordinators said they welcomed support for Tinubu from politicians across party lines but warned that such support should not undermine APC candidates, party structures or grassroots organisations. They argued that Wike could mobilise support for the President, but said problems could arise if the coalition began creating competing centres of political authority or supporting candidates who oppose APC candidates in state and legislative elections. APC chieftain Farouk Aliyu similarly criticised Wike’s description of progressive governors as politically lazy, saying the party wanted a unified campaign structure across the country. Wike has maintained that his support for Tinubu is separate from membership of the APC. He has said his backing of the President is firm while arguing that the PDP remains free to field candidates in other elections. He has also maintained that the Rainbow Coalition is not an APC structure. The position has created a political distinction between support for Tinubu at the presidential level and support for APC candidates contesting governorship and legislative elections. APC governors have expressed concern that politicians could support Tinubu while simultaneously backing candidates from other parties in elections taking place alongside the presidential contest. Amid the criticism, APC federal lawmaker Abdulmumin Jibrin has defended Wike, describing him as an asset to the ruling party. Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Jibrin said Wike’s contribution to Tinubu’s political project should be recognised rather than publicly attacked. He urged APC governors who disagree with Wike to engage him privately rather than escalating the dispute through public statements. The PDP has also defended Wike’s right to support Tinubu while remaining a member of the opposition party. the party argued that supporting Tinubu does not require Wike to abandon the PDP or surrender his political relationships and activities. The PDP criticised APC governors who have opposed Wike’s political activities, saying political parties and politicians should be allowed to field candidates and compete in the 2027 elections. The dispute has broadened beyond Wike and individual APC governors into a debate over how Tinubu’s 2027 support base should be organised. For APC leaders, the priority is maintaining a unified party structure and supporting the party’s candidates across all levels. For Wike and his allies, the Rainbow Coalition is intended to mobilise politicians from different parties around Tinubu without requiring them to abandon their existing political platforms. The competing approaches have created tensions over whether cross-party support for the President can operate alongside the APC’s formal campaign machinery without affecting the party’s candidates. With the 2027 elections approaching, the disagreement over Wike’s coalition remains part of a wider political contest involving the APC, PDP and other emerging alliances.