Rainbow Coalition: Wike, APC Governors Backing Tinubu in Different Ways — Fayose

Former Ekiti State Governor and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ayo Fayose, has said the controversy surrounding the Rainbow Coalition being championed by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, will not undermine President Bola Tinubu’s chances of winning the 2027 presidential election.

Fayose said Wike and the governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were supporting Tinubu through different political strategies, stressing that the major issue was whether their respective approaches could translate into votes for the President.

The former governor spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday amid renewed controversy over the Rainbow Coalition after APC governors rejected political arrangements they believe could weaken the party’s candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.

The governors, led by Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, had on Monday declared that they would not support any alliance capable of undermining Tinubu’s re-election bid or the electoral fortunes of APC candidates at other levels.

Wike, however, maintained on Tuesday that the Rainbow Coalition was a broad platform comprising politicians from different political parties working to support Tinubu’s re-election.

He insisted that the coalition was not intended to undermine or replace the APC’s internal structure.

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Reacting to the disagreement, Fayose said the controversy should not be interpreted as a threat to Tinubu’s re-election prospects.

“I sincerely don’t want to join issues on these two sides. These are issues of simply everybody exercising their interest in the system,” Fayose said.

According to him, the success of the Rainbow Coalition should ultimately be measured by its ability to deliver electoral gains for Tinubu.

“If Rainbow works for Wike in Rivers, and it can bring results, that’s all the president wants. If Rainbow works and can give him numbers, so be it,” he said.

Fayose argued that political strategies could differ from one state to another, noting that Wike’s influence in Rivers State did not necessarily mean he would attempt to establish the same structure elsewhere.

He said the disagreement between Wike and the APC governors was largely a reflection of competing political interests and individual egos rather than a division over Tinubu’s presidency.

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“Everything works together for good for the president. Without controversy, you can’t get far. Controversy in itself will help the election,” Fayose said.

He added that both sides remained united in their support for Tinubu despite their different approaches.

“The Nigerian Governors’ Forum says we are not doing coalition, Wike says do what you have to do in your state. Whatever you feel comfortable with. If you are comfortable without a coalition, go ahead,” he said.

Fayose also dismissed concerns that the Rainbow Coalition could automatically translate into support for opposition candidates at other levels, noting that Wike had not publicly declared support for candidates beyond the presidency.

“Wike has not put it out there that he is supporting people beyond the presidency because he still wants to keep the PDP,” he said.

On the broader political calculations ahead of 2027, Fayose said Nigeria’s longstanding practice of rotating political power between the North and South would remain a major factor.

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“The opposition knows they are going nowhere. The reality is that power is coming to the South for eight years. Tinubu is the shortest point of power going to the North,” he said.

He acknowledged that rotational presidency was not provided for in the Nigerian Constitution but described it as an established political norm.

The controversy over the Rainbow Coalition has continued to highlight a potential distinction between supporting Tinubu’s presidential bid and backing APC candidates contesting governorship, National Assembly and state Assembly elections.

While Uzodimma has maintained that APC governors remain committed to the party’s candidates, Wike has continued to argue that politicians should be free to adopt strategies that can help secure Tinubu’s victory across party lines.