Rivers, Kwara, Gombe, Cross River: APC states threatened by Wike’s Rainbow Coalition ahead of 2027
Concerns Rise Among APC Leaders Over Wike’s National Rainbow Coalition
As the National Rainbow Coalition, backed by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, expands its influence, leaders within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are expressing increasing alarm. The coalition, which Wike claims is primarily focused on supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, has forged alliances that involve not only opposition parties but also politicians who oppose APC candidates at both state and national levels.
Worries are most pronounced in states such as Rivers, Kwara, Gombe, and Cross River, where candidates aligned with the coalition are mounting significant challenges to existing APC structures. APC governors and their allies fear these developments may confuse voters and weaken the party’s electoral prospects in upcoming elections alongside the presidential ballot.
Wike has asserted that his primary political objective is to support Tinubu while collaborating with politicians across party lines. During a recent media chat in Port Harcourt, he accused Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of campaigning against him.
“In Kwara, he has been the one championing this campaign against me,” Wike said, referencing his confrontations with AbdulRazaq. He countered claims that he was sponsoring candidates against the governor’s preferences by arguing that he has provided a platform for discontented APC members who might otherwise align with factions opposed to Tinubu.
The complexities of the political landscape are particularly evident in Rivers State. Here, the coalition has attracted members from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the APC, the Labour Party, and other groups. Formed in January 2026 amid a political crisis between Wike and Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the coalition gained significance when Fubara joined the APC.
Uncertainty looms over the governorship race in Rivers as the coalition has thrown its support behind Kingsley Chinda, a former PDP Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, complicating the political dynamics. Chinda has faced scrutiny regarding his defection, with ongoing legal discussions concerning the circumstances of his move. His decision has raised concerns among some coalition members from the riverine areas, who argue for a local candidate.
In Kwara, tensions have similarly escalated as disaffected APC members allied with former Senate President Bukola Saraki, joining Wike’s coalition. Senator Saliu Mustapha, after contesting the APC governorship primary, transitioned to the PDP and received the party’s ticket for Kwara Central, setting up a contest with AbdulRazaq. Other APC defectors, including Kolo Jiya and two members of the Kwara State House of Assembly, have also joined the PDP, further complicating the political landscape.
The aggrieved APC members have rallied under the Otoge Progressives, formally launching the Kwara chapter of the National Rainbow Coalition on August 26, 2026. This coalition asserts that its members can support Tinubu for president while endorsing different parties in other elections.
In Gombe, former Minister Isa Pantami has aligned with the PDP, supported by the Rainbow Coalition, creating a new political landscape where support for Tinubu at the presidential level contrasts with opposition to APC candidates at the state level.
Cross River State also reflects the coalition’s impact, with the PDP actively fielding candidates for various offices, including the governorship. Reports indicate that approximately 500 APC members have defected to the PDP in the state.
APC governors are particularly concerned that the multi-party structure of the Rainbow Coalition could undermine Tinubu’s re-election efforts. During a recent APC Governors Forum meeting in Abuja, Uzodimma expressed the party’s intention to remain united in support of its candidates.
“The APC Governors Forum unanimously resolved that its members will not participate in any political arrangement capable of undermining the re-election of Mr. President or weakening the APC,” Uzodimma stated, emphasizing a commitment to the party’s candidates across all levels.
Despite these concerns, Wike has remained steadfast in asserting that the Rainbow Coalition is focused solely on mobilizing support for Tinubu’s re-election, delineating his support from the APC’s candidates in other contests. In a statement through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, he reiterated that his efforts aim to benefit the President while allowing for independent political actions in other elections.
Wike further challenged the APC’s performance in the 2023 elections, questioning how the party secured legislative seats despite receiving lower percentages of the presidential vote in various states.
