Umahi says Wike’s Rainbow Coalition is not present in Ebonyi — Premium Times Nigeria

In Nigeria, Minister of Works David Umahi said that the Rainbow Coalition movement, led by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, is not represented in Ebonyi State. During an inspection of the Calabar–Abuja highway in Benue State, he dismissed claims that the movement was allegedly trying to take power from Ebonyi Governor Francis Nwifuru, Premium Times Nigeria reports.

Umahi, a former governor of Ebonyi, also said that he does not know whether Wike has a candidate for governor in the state. According to him, opposition politicians may campaign there if they do not provoke unrest or spread hate speech.

Coalition’s plans for 2027

According to the publication, Wike leads a multiparty political alliance intended to support the re-election of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu in 2027. Wike said the coalition would support candidates of his party, the PDP, for other elective offices, while advocating for a second presidential term for Tinubu, who represents the ruling APC.

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Wike is the national leader of a PDP faction recognized by the court and Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission. At the same time, he serves in Tinubu’s administration and publicly supports his re-election.

Disputes in Ebonyi

Umahi said that he sees no threats to the victory of Nwifuru, Tinubu and other APC candidates in Ebonyi State in the 2027 elections. This is his political assessment.

In June, Nwifuru threatened to confront Wike in Ebonyi after statements by unnamed allies of the minister that Tinubu had allegedly handed the state over to the control of Wike and his PDP faction. According to Premium Times Nigeria, disputes between Wike and APC governors have heightened concerns that the Rainbow Coalition could be used during the 2027 election campaign.