The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike’s campaign for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 has exposed divisions among Peoples Democratic Party stakeholders, with several state chapters rejecting the Rainbow Coalition while political blocs in other states rally behind the President.
The PDP chapters in Imo, Oyo, Edo and Bauchi have distanced themselves from the coalition, insisting that their candidates will contest under the party’s platform rather than withdraw in favour of candidates from other parties. Similar positions have emerged in Jigawa, Yobe and Niger, where party officials either denied the coalition’s presence or said there was no known arrangement involving their chapters.
However, political blocs in Rivers, Kwara and Benue have expressed support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition, illustrating the growing divide between those backing the President at the national level and those insisting that such support should not extend to the APC’s candidates in legislative and governorship contests.
Wike, a PDP chieftain serving in the APC-led Federal Government, has continued to promote the Rainbow Coalition as a platform for mobilising support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections. The initiative has also generated friction between the minister and some APC governors over whether support for the President should translate into support for the ruling party’s candidates at other levels.
While Wike maintains that he can support Tinubu for President without endorsing APC candidates across the board, several PDP chapters have rejected any arrangement that could weaken their electoral chances.
The dispute has also exposed differences within the APC and among allied political groups, with some blocs pledging support for Tinubu while maintaining that they have not agreed to withdraw candidates contesting against the ruling party.
The contrasting positions underscore the challenge of building a broad presidential support base without deepening divisions among the political parties and stakeholders expected to participate in the 2027 elections.
Wike recently alleged that the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and his Imo State counterpart, Hope Uzodimma, were behind some of the political challenges he was facing.
He attributed their opposition to the growing influence of the Rainbow Coalition and its support for politicians challenging APC candidates in governorship and senatorial elections.
Uzodimma, who chairs the APC Progressive Governors’ Forum, has maintained that APC governors would not support any arrangement capable of undermining President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid or weakening the party ahead of the 2027 elections. He has insisted that the governors would campaign for APC candidates at all levels.
Wike, however, has argued that his support for Tinubu’s presidential ambition does not require him to back APC candidates in other elections, maintaining that he is free to support candidates of his choice.
The position has continued to fuel tensions between the minister and some APC governors.
In his recent remarks on the coalition, Wike challenged those opposed to the arrangement to confront him directly with their grievances.
He also insisted that the coalition had come to stay, pledging to deliver Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory to Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.
As part of the coalition’s political strategy, some PDP candidates in Rivers State have stepped down in favour of APC candidates, while others have withdrawn to make way for contenders from different parties.
A similar arrangement was recorded in the FCT on October 13, when three PDP candidates—Gomna Stephen Gashe, who represents the Abaji/Gwagwalada/Kwali/Kuje Federal Constituency; Ahmed Dogara Jacob, the candidate for the Municipal/Bwari Federal Constituency; and senatorial candidate Angulu Bako—withdrew from their respective races.
The withdrawals paved the way for APC candidates Danladi Chiya in Abaji/Gwagwalada/Kwali/Kuje, Shekwogaza Gabaya in Municipal/Bwari and Philip Aduda in the senatorial contest.
However, several PDP state chapters have maintained that their candidates will not step down in favour of contenders from other parties.
The Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has ruled out any possibility of its candidates stepping down for contenders from other parties in the 2027 elections, insisting that they will contest on the party’s platform.
The party’s spokesperson, Lancelot Obiaku, said all its candidates remained committed to the electoral contest.
