Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across Nigeria should support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in the 2027 general election.

 

Wike made the declaration on Tuesday in Rivers State during the unveiling of the Rainbow Coalition’s preferred candidates for the forthcoming elections, where he said he had reached an agreement with members of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) to mobilise support for Tinubu across the country.

 

According to the minister, the arrangement extends beyond Rivers State to PDP members in Imo, Kwara, Gombe, Zamfara, Ogun, Cross River and other states.

 

“What this means is that as the National Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party and with the support of the National Working Committee, we have agreed that all the states will support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Wike said.

 

He added that members of the opposition party should align with the coalition’s position and work towards securing another term for the president.

 

“So, every PDP member in Imo State, you will support Bola Ahmed Tinubu; every PDP member in Kwara, Gombe, Zamfara, Ogun, and all other states must support Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he declared.

 

Wike Cites INEC Recognition in PDP Leadership Dispute

The FCT minister also addressed the lingering leadership dispute within the PDP, insisting that only individuals recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alongside himself as the party’s national leader, could speak on its behalf.

 

Wike identified Mao Ohuabunwa as chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) and Abdulrahman Mohammed as national chairman, arguing that the recognition settled the question of who was authorised to represent the party.

 

“There is nothing like a factional leader; INEC has recognised the Peoples Democratic Party led by Mao Ohuabunwa as chairman of the BOT and Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed as the National Chairman, and nobody can speak on behalf of the party except these two people and me, the National Leader,” he said.

 

His comments come amid divisions within the PDP over its leadership and political direction ahead of the 2027 elections.

 

Wike has continued to promote cooperation between political actors supporting Tinubu, despite his membership of the PDP, which remains one of Nigeria’s major opposition parties.

 

Rainbow Coalition Aims to Build Cross-Party Support for Tinubu

Explaining the purpose of the Rainbow Coalition, Wike said the group was established to bring politicians and supporters from different parties together behind Tinubu’s re-election bid.

 

He maintained that the coalition was not intended to create conflict but to encourage political cooperation among individuals who share the objective of supporting the president.

 

Wike also thanked those who had agreed to work under the platform, using Kingsley Chinda, whom he identified as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Rivers State, as a point of reference.

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“The candidate of the Rainbow Coalition, let me use as a point of contact, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, to appreciate and thank all of you who have agreed to work together, who have agreed under the Rainbow Coalition to support His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the president of this country,” he said.

 

The coalition unveiled its preferred candidates for the 2027 elections in Rivers State as part of its political mobilisation efforts ahead of the polls.

 

Wike Declares Rivers United Behind Tinubu

The minister further claimed that Rivers State was united in its support for Tinubu, expressing optimism that the state would avoid a return to the violence and political instability that have marked previous periods of political tension.

 

He said the coalition’s activities were intended to promote peace and cooperation among political stakeholders in the state.

 

“For those who don’t know, they should know today that Rivers State is entirely for Tinubu,” Wike said.

 

He added that the state should move away from political violence and internal divisions, stressing the need for a more united political environment.

 

“Speakers have said here that Rivers State is united, that in this dispensation, we will not have again Rivers of blood, we will not have again killings and crises amongst us in Rivers State; rather, what we will have is a united Rivers State,” he stated.

 

Wike also noted that political developments in Rivers State were attracting attention across the country, including in the Federal Capital Territory.

 

He reiterated that the Rainbow Coalition would continue to pursue support for Tinubu across party lines.

 

“Rainbow Coalition means no harm but to bring people together across political parties to support Tinubu,” he said.

 

Political Implications Ahead of 2027

Wike’s declaration signals an effort to mobilise PDP members and other political stakeholders behind Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

 

However, his call also raises questions about how PDP members who support the coalition’s position will reconcile that decision with the party’s opposition status and its own electoral ambitions.

 

The extent to which the coalition can translate its declarations into coordinated support across the states mentioned remains to be seen as political parties and their supporters prepare for the next general election.

 

For now, Wike has made his position clear: he wants the Rainbow Coalition to serve as a platform for cross-party support for Tinubu, with Rivers State positioned as a key centre of that effort.