Wike Reveals Why Uzodinma Is Attacking Rainbow Coalition

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has alleged that Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodinma, is opposed to the activities of the Rainbow Coalition because of his reported ambition to become President of the Senate after the 2027 elections.

Wike made the allegation on Monday during an appearance on TVC News’ Journalists’ Hangout, where he discussed the political activities surrounding the Rainbow Coalition and preparations for the 2027 general elections.

According to the FCT minister, Uzodinma’s opposition to the coalition is linked to concerns over how the political arrangement could affect the emergence of the next leadership of the National Assembly.

Wike alleged that politicians who were denied tickets by the All Progressives Congress (APC) could contest elections on alternative platforms, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He argued that if such candidates emerged victorious, they might not support Uzodinma’s reported ambition to become Senate President.

The minister further stated that he would not support Uzodinma for the Senate presidency, describing his position as a political disagreement rather than a personal matter.

The disagreement between the two politicians comes amid growing controversy over the Rainbow Coalition, which Wike has described as a cross-party platform focused on mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027. Wike has maintained that the coalition does not prevent political parties from fielding candidates in governorship and legislative elections.

Uzodinma, who chairs the Progressive Governors’ Forum, has previously said APC governors would not support any political arrangement capable of weakening the party or adversely affecting its candidates in the 2027 elections.

Wike, however, has insisted that his support for Tinubu does not amount to support for APC candidates in every electoral contest. He has argued that politicians can support the President’s re-election while remaining free to back candidates of their respective parties in other elections.

The FCT minister also said President Tinubu was aware of the Rainbow Coalition and his political activities ahead of the 2027 election.

During the same interview, Wike challenged supporters of Peter Obi, popularly known as Obidients, to produce official result sheets to support claims that the former Anambra State governor won Rivers State in the 2023 presidential election.

Wike dismissed the claim as unsupported by the official result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), asking Obi’s supporters to provide documentary evidence of their assertion.

“They won by their own imagination. Who did INEC declare to have won?” Wike said.

He further questioned whether the claim was successfully defended before the election tribunal, asking, “When they went to the tribunal, were they able to defend their claim?”

Wike also argued that victory in Rivers State could not be determined from results in a single location, noting that the state comprises 23 local government areas.

The political exchanges between Wike, Uzodinma and other APC governors continue against the backdrop of preparations for the 2027 general elections and differing positions over the role of cross-party political alliances.