2027: WIKE REAFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR TINUBU, SAYS RAINBOW COALITION ONLY FOR MR PRESIDENT
By: Wisdom Acka
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has reiterated that his commitment to the 2027 reelection bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains firm.
He clarified that he never pledged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would refrain from fielding candidates in governorship or legislative races.
Speaking through a statement issued on Tuesday, 15 September, 2026, by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the Minister dismissed assertions that his support for the President translates to abandoning the opposition party’s prospects across other state and national contests.
Explaining the structure of his political strategy, Wike stated that the “rainbow coalition” driving the President’s political support operates independently of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and serves primarily as a cross-party alliance for those impressed by the current administration’s achievements.
He urged politicians facing electoral challenges in their respective states to address local issues directly rather than exploiting the presidential race to whip up public sentiments, stressing that politics remains an entirely local affair.
The Minister recalled that he and other members of the G5 group supported President Tinubu in the 2023 election without entering into prior agreements with the APC, adding that his personal backing for 2027 applies exclusively to the presidency.
He argued that modern political success depends on genuine grassroots mobilization at the polling units rather than opportunistic maneuvers, pointing to ticket-splitting by voters in states like Imo, Ebonyi, Abia, and Enugu during the 2023 polls as clear evidence that electorates can distinguish between presidential and local ballots.
Wike called on political stakeholders across the country to prioritize the president’s reelection before focusing on state-level contests, maintaining that supporting the incumbent does not stop the PDP from competing vigorously for governorship, National Assembly, and State Assembly seats.
Reinforcing his position, he noted that the rainbow initiative remains a distinct multi-party platform dedicated solely to securing a second term for President Tinubu based on his performance in office.
