Minister of Works David Umahi has dismissed reports of a political alliance involving the Rainbow Coalition in Ebonyi State, saying the state remains committed to the All Progressives Congress and its candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to a statement issued on Saturday, September 26, by the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of Works on Media, Francis Nwaze, Umahi spoke on Friday, September 25, during an inspection of the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway in Benue State, as political disagreements continued over the role of the Rainbow Coalition in the next presidential election.
The Rainbow Coalition, promoted by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, brings together politicians from different parties who support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election while retaining their respective party affiliations.
Wike has maintained that the arrangement is separate from the APC and allows members of other political parties to support Tinubu for president while pursuing different candidates in other electoral contests.
Asked about reports that he was establishing a similar arrangement in Ebonyi and his relationship with Wike, Umahi said there was no such political structure in the state.
“If Wike has candidates here, he has not told me. And his candidate cannot break our relationship, but his candidate is not part of our relationship. There is no rainbow coalition in Ebonyi State.”
The minister, who previously served as Ebonyi governor, also criticised the PDP, explaining that his departure from the party was influenced by what he described as its failure to adequately recognise the South-East.
“We supported PDP. We voted for presidents in PDP. And when it was our time for them to honour us, they did not honour us. They maltreated us,” Umahi said.
He said politicians seeking to campaign in Ebonyi would be allowed to do so but cautioned them against inflammatory statements that could disrupt the state’s peace.
“Anybody that wants to campaign, come and campaign. But don’t dish out hate speeches and you want to take those speeches, and you want that we should lay a red carpet for you. We will not do that,” he said.
“Nobody can foment crisis in Ebonyi State,” the minister added.
Umahi’s position comes against the backdrop of tension between Wike and some APC governors over the political implications of the Rainbow Coalition.
While Wike has described the platform as a cross-party vehicle for supporting Tinubu, some APC governors have raised concerns about political arrangements that could create divided loyalties within the ruling party.
Beyond the political controversy, Umahi used the inspection of the Calabar-Abuja highway to defend the Federal Government’s infrastructure programme and reject claims that projects under his ministry had been disproportionately concentrated in the South-East.
“I saw on social media where they say I cornered all projects to Southeast. That is very wonderful. But we have the publication of all projects ongoing by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, so they darken counsel without knowledge,” he said.
“I’m not on my own. The President is my boss. So where will he be when I corner all projects to Southeast?” Umahi asked.
According to the minister, infrastructure development in the South-East forms part of a broader national programme rather than a regional allocation made at his discretion.
He said the region might not occupy the first, second or third position in terms of project distribution but would “definitely they will not be the last.”
Umahi also urged Nigerians to assess the Tinubu administration by examining projects currently being executed instead of relying solely on campaign promises.
“We tell our story. It’s not a question of saying, ‘I will do this, I’ll do this.’ What about the one that the person is doing? Let us compare the past with the present,” he said.
The minister identified the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway as one of the administration’s major infrastructure projects.
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He said Section Two of the highway, which passes through Benue State, covers approximately 173.6 kilometres and has a contract value of about N683bn. Section One, he added, is valued at approximately N454bn.
During the inspection, Umahi ordered contractors to avoid demolishing buildings along the current alignment until the Federal Government completes its review of the route.
“My directive is that no building should be touched. Even if it’s within the alignment, I have to come and realign it. So you just have to continue your work and go around those buildings until we come to look at it,” he said.
He further directed the contractors to accelerate construction and open additional portions of the highway while engineers address the challenge involving the Ado Bridge.
“I do not believe in engineering that anything is impossible,” Umahi said.
The Works Minister also explained his continued support for Tinubu’s 2027 presidential bid, linking his position to the administration’s policies, reforms and infrastructure agenda.
“What gave rise to this is because I believe in President Bola Tinubu. I believe that he’s the one called by God. I believe in his vision. I believe in his reforms.
“I believe he’s the best person that I have worked with and for, and I’m very proud of working for him and working with him,” he said.
Umahi argued that continuity was necessary for major infrastructure projects whose completion could span several years.
“If, God forbid, another person says he’s President, all these projects will be stalled. And I don’t think Ebonyi wants their projects to be stalled,” he said.