The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended the Rainbow Coalition supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, insisting that the arrangement is intended to expand the President’s support base rather than create divisions within the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Wike said the initiative brings together APC members and supporters of Tinubu from other political parties to work towards a common electoral goal.
Speaking at a media parley in Abuja on Tuesday, October 13, the former Rivers State governor dismissed concerns that the coalition could weaken the ruling party, maintaining that its focus was to improve Tinubu’s chances of securing another term.
“If you see that word, PBT/APC, it means those who are supporting the president who are not members of the party, together with the party, are working together to achieve that purpose,” Wike said.
He identified Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, alongside himself, as political figures associated with coordinating the initiative at the state level.
According to Wike, the APC remains the platform through which Tinubu will pursue re-election, but supporters outside the party are also welcome to contribute to that objective.
“The major thing is Mr President. Whatever we are going to do, whoever has any idea or anything to contribute is to the success of Mr President. That is the whole thing,” he said.
The minister also dismissed claims that the coalition had unsettled APC governors or could encourage defections from the ruling party.
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“I don’t know what concerns there are. As far as I am concerned, there is no problem,” he said.
Explaining how the arrangement could work in practice, Wike cited the Federal Capital Territory, where he said he had appealed to political stakeholders to support Tinubu and APC candidates contesting National Assembly seats while allowing supporters of other parties to choose their preferred candidates at other levels.
He argued that political realities vary across states, making it necessary to accommodate local interests while working towards a shared national objective.
Wike said political leadership often involves persuading people with different political affiliations to support a common cause, adding that cooperation across party lines was not entirely new in Nigeria.
He maintained that politicians had previously supported presidential candidates outside their own parties while pursuing separate political interests at the state level.
However, he said the current political climate had made such alliances more visible and formalised.
Wike reiterated that the coalition’s central aim was to secure Tinubu’s re-election and sustain what he described as the President’s achievements.
He urged Nigerians to evaluate Tinubu’s performance based on his record, rather than allowing party affiliations to shape their judgment.