How Internal Crises Are Weakening Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, “It Is A Source Of Worry” – Tinubu’s Loyalist

How Internal Crises Are Weakening

 

OpenLife News reports that powerful blocs within the All Progressives Congress (APC) are openly clashing with the Rainbow Coalition midwifed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, warning that the arrangement could hurt APC candidates and even President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

Wike, a key figure in the INEC-recognised PDP, insists the Rainbow Coalition is “100% for Tinubu.” He says his critics are only against him because of his support for the President.

But his opponents argue that fielding candidates across multiple parties will confuse voters, especially in rural areas, and ultimately reduce Tinubu’s vote tally in what is shaping up to be a tight presidential race.

“It is a source of worry”
Sources close to Tinubu said the President has been briefed that the coalition could affect APC votes across states. The concern was reportedly raised by governors at a recent meeting in Abuja.

The Wike-led coalition has already fielded candidates under the PDP for National Assembly elections scheduled for the same day as the 2027 presidential poll. Critics say this could fragment Tinubu’s vote strength.

“The joker is to tell their followers secretly to ditch APC and vote PDP from top to bottom,” a source said.

Governors fear the coalition cannot be properly explained to old, rural and less politically enlightened voters. They cited examples from Oyo in 2023 and South-West in 2003, where split-ticket voting cost parties key seats.

States already feeling the heat
The issue is already raising dust in Rivers, Kwara, Gombe and Cross River.

In Port Harcourt, Wike accused Imo Governor Hope Uzodimma and Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of leading the campaign against him.

“Kwara governor has been championing this campaign against me everywhere. I have confronted him too,” Wike said. He added that AbdulRazaq should be grateful he gave aggrieved APC bigwigs a PDP platform instead of joining an anti-Tinubu coalition.

In Kwara, former Senate President Bukola Saraki has teamed up with Wike’s PDP. Senator Saliu Mustapha and Hon. Kolo Jiya have defected to PDP and picked senatorial tickets, while two lawmakers also crossed over.

The group, under Otoge Progressives (T.O.P), formally launched the Kwara Rainbow Coalition on August 26, 2026.In Rivers, the coalition named Hon. Kingsley Chinda as consensus APC governorship candidate, with Hon. Major Jack as running mate.

The move has sparked grumbling from riverine members who argue a riverine candidate should complete Governor Sim Fubara’s tenure.

In Gombe, former Minister Isa Pantami has realigned with PDP under the coalition, while in Cross River a PDP-LP-ADC alliance is challenging Governor Bassey Otu.

APC Governors alarmed
Politics Editor of Arise News, Sunna Sambo, warned the coalition could injure Tinubu.
“They are afraid that on election day, not many people will be able to decipher between voting for President APC, and then voting for governors PDP,” he said.

Analyst Dr Abdul Kareem Jimoh said governors are right to be angry. “Wike is affecting their own interest. Their concern is that so far as the President’s interest is taken care of, they are less concerned about what happens to the party at state level.”

Wike remains defiant
Wike dismissed the criticism, saying his mission is to make opposition figures uncomfortable ahead of 2027.
“Adeleke is fully supporting Mr President. In the next few weeks, watch what is going to happen. You will see the Rainbow Coalition in this country supporting Mr President,” he said.

He added: “My business is to make them not to feel well. It is not my wish that they should feel well. And that is what we are doing to them.”