2027: PDP backs Wike’s rainbow coalition for Tinubu’s Re-election, says APC governors underperformed

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has backed its member and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over his decision to remain in the party while mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election through the Rainbow Coalition.

The PDP, led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, said Wike has a constitutional and democratic right to support any candidate of his choice, regardless of the political party under which the candidate is contesting.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, stated this in a statement on Tuesday while reacting to the controversy surrounding the Rainbow Coalition being promoted by Wike ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to Mohammed, Wike’s support for Tinubu does not conflict with his continued membership of the PDP.

“Wike has every constitutional and democratic right to decide whom he supports politically. His support for President Tinubu is legitimate, and as a serving appointee of the President, there is nothing contradictory about supporting the President while maintaining his political identity and relationships within the PDP,” he said.

The development has triggered a disagreement between Wike and governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly over concerns that the minister could use the coalition to support politicians challenging APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

The APC Governors Forum, chaired by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, had said it would not support any political alliance or arrangement capable of undermining President Tinubu’s re-election bid or weakening the APC ahead of the elections.

Wike, however, has maintained that the Rainbow Coalition is focused on mobilising support for Tinubu at the presidential level and does not mean the PDP will abandon its candidates in other elections. He also said he never promised that the PDP would not field candidates for governorship, National Assembly and state assembly elections.

Responding to the APC governors, the PDP criticised their opposition to Wike’s political activities and accused them of being concerned about their electoral prospects.

Mohammed said the governors should focus on their governance records rather than attempting to determine whom Wike should support.

“The APC Governors’ Forum should understand that Wike is not their problem; their problem is their poor governance and failure to meet the expectations of their people. Their opposition to Wike’s support is driven by fear—the fear that their poor records of performance will be exposed at the polls,” he said.

The PDP spokesperson also described the demand that Wike should not support or field candidates capable of challenging APC candidates as a political miscalculation.

He said Wike’s support for Tinubu did not amount to abandoning the PDP or surrendering the political space to the APC.

“Their demand that Wike should not support or field candidates capable of challenging the APC governors and their anointed candidates is a fundamental political miscalculation. Elections are contests, and every political party has the democratic right to present candidates before the electorate,” Mohammed said.

He added that the PDP had stabilised and was preparing candidates for the 2027 elections.

“The reality that appears to have unsettled them is that the PDP has not only stabilised but has also successfully fielded candidates across elective positions who are capable of challenging these APC governors and their anointed candidates in 2027,” he said.

Mohammed further argued that governors confident in their performance should allow voters to judge their records at the polls.

“It is particularly revealing that governors who earlier claimed to be confident of their performance are now asking their opponents not to field candidates against them. If they have truly performed and retained the confidence of their people, they should welcome a contest and allow the electorate to decide,” he said.

The PDP spokesperson also defended Wike’s political influence, describing him as an important political figure whose support could have an impact on electoral contests.

He said Wike had demonstrated political organisation and mobilisation during his time as governor of Rivers State and as FCT minister.

“The APC governors should be reminded that no one can jettison Wike’s support and expect to win elections effortlessly. Those who have attempted to do so in the past have learnt the lesson the hard way,” Mohammed said.

He urged the APC governors to concentrate on governance, accountability and the management of resources accruing to their states rather than attempting to influence Wike’s political decisions.

“The APC Governors’ Forum should therefore concentrate on governance, accountability and performance rather than attempting to determine whom Wike should support,” he said.

Mohammed described Wike as an asset to Tinubu’s re-election campaign, saying the minister could contribute significantly to the President’s political mobilisation ahead of 2027.

“The Hon. Minister of the FCT is not a liability to President Tinubu’s political project. He is undoubtedly an asset, a mobiliser and a force capable of contributing significantly to electoral victory,” he said.

The PDP’s position comes amid growing political tensions surrounding Wike’s Rainbow Coalition and its potential impact on the 2027 elections. Wike has repeatedly maintained that the coalition is intended to support Tinubu’s re-election while allowing politicians to pursue their respective contests at the state and legislative levels.

Meanwhile, the PDP faction led by Abdulrahman Mohammed has already presented Senator Sandy Onor as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election. INEC’s published list of presidential candidates also identifies Onor as the PDP candidate.