2027: Wike Reaffirms Support For Tinubu’s Re-election, Defends Rainbow Coalition

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reaffirmed his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, declaring that his immediate political concern is to secure a second term for the President.

Wike also defended the controversial Rainbow Coalition, insisting that the platform was not established to weaken or destabilise the All Progressives Congress (APC), but to mobilise support for Tinubu across political divides.

The minister spoke on Monday after inspecting ongoing projects along the ISEX 2 corridor, Southern Parkway and the road linking Nile University to Ring Road 3 in Abuja.

“My concern is that the President will be re-elected for the second term. That is my concern. And I made that known from the onset that I was going to support Mr President with all my might and strength,” Wike said.

His comments came amid growing disagreement over the Rainbow Coalition, with supporters of the platform presenting it as a broad political movement for Tinubu, while APC governors have expressed concerns about political arrangements that could undermine the ruling party or its candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.

Wike, however, said the coalition was simply encouraging APC members and like-minded Nigerians outside the party to support the President.

“We said all our party members, all those like-minds who are not APC members, to please ensure that they support Mr. President,” he said.

The former Rivers State governor also rejected speculation that his involvement in the coalition was part of an attempt to position himself for the 2031 presidential contest, saying it was too early to determine what political circumstances would prevail years ahead.

“You know, people take the position of God. First of all, you have to pray that you are alive. You must ask God, ‘Keep me alive till tomorrow,’ or ‘Keep me alive till the next day.’ When God keeps you alive, then you now know what to do,” Wike said.

Wike, who came second in the 2022 PDP presidential primary, said his experience in Nigerian politics had exposed him to the intrigues surrounding presidential contests and succession.

Responding directly to suggestions that he was already positioning himself for 2031, he asked: “So, am I positioning myself, in which of the parties am I positioning myself to?”

He further argued that President Tinubu would also have an interest in determining who succeeds him after his tenure, stressing that future political calculations would depend on circumstances that could not be predetermined.

Wike also promised to reveal what he described as the undertones behind the opposition to the Rainbow Coalition during a television appearance.

“You will hear it today. What is the real cry about the Rainbow Coalition, the undertone. Nigerians don’t understand that there are undertones about it, and we’ll let the cat out of the bag so that Nigerians will be well-informed,” he said.

Meanwhile, Wike expressed satisfaction with the progress of major infrastructure projects in Abuja, saying contractors had renewed their commitment to completing and handing over key projects before the 2027 general elections.

He said the inspection was part of his routine monitoring of projects promised to FCT residents, stressing that contractors must meet agreed delivery timelines.

“I came back yesterday and, as usual, I have to go round to check the ongoing projects which were promised to residents of Abuja to be completed before the elections,” he said.

The minister said he was impressed by the quality of work on the projects inspected and disclosed that CGC had reaffirmed its commitment to completing and handing over the High Court project by December.

On the second bridge project around the Gaduwa axis, Wike said heavy rainfall had slowed the commencement of major earthworks but expressed confidence that work would intensify once the rains subsided.

“The second bridge is ongoing, and they have said but for the heavy downpours, they would have started the earthworks. However, by the time the rain subsides, they will start heavy earthwork and still promise that to be completed before the elections,” he said.

At the Nile University–Ring Road 3 corridor, Wike said he was relieved by the progress recorded since his previous inspection, when he had raised concerns over the pace of construction.

He disclosed that CCECC had now committed to completing and handing over the project in the first week of January.

“I must say the management has committed itself that latest first week of January, they would have also handed over this project. So, I am very, very happy that we are on schedule, on course, and the promise made by this administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would be completed before we go for the general elections,” he said.

Wike said the renewed commitments by the contractors had eased his earlier concerns, adding that he expected them to meet the agreed deadlines.

“Last time I came, I was worried, but now I think I’m a bit relieved. With their further commitment, you saw what CGC said, and now CCECC has repeated that they will be on course. So, I trust them,” he said.