Why Tinubu insisted on Wike, Soludo, Adeleke despite internal opposition ‘Rainbow Coalition Has Come to Stay,’ Wike Tells APC Governors

By Frontline Reporters

In a strategic move to broaden President Bola Tinubu’s support base ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election, the Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have incorporated prominent opposition figures into the President’s re-election campaign council, despite resistance from some party loyalists.

The expanded Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), scheduled for inauguration in Abuja, includes Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke of Accord; and Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Under the new arrangement, Wike will coordinate the campaign in Rivers State and the FCT, Soludo will oversee Anambra, while Adeleke will coordinate activities in Osun State.

The revised list also includes former Gombe State governor and serving PDP senator Ibrahim Dankwambo as an adviser to the campaign council, alongside Obafemi George, who will advise on media strategy.

Yari Retains Campaign DG Position

Senator Abdulaziz Yari has retained his position as Director-General of the re-election campaign.

Former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole will serve as Deputy Director-General for Mobilisation, while the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, has been named Deputy Director-General for Administration.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu was appointed Deputy Director-General for South II, while Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker Martin Amaewhule will serve as South-South Deputy Coordinator for State Assemblies Mobilisation.

Minister of Works David Umahi was named Deputy Director-General for Infrastructure and Sensitisation.

Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori will serve as Director of Finance, while Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Zacch Adedeji, will jointly coordinate fundraising.

Former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje was appointed Director of Stakeholder Mobilisation, while former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola will coordinate stakeholder mobilisation in the South-West.

Chief Ayiri Emami was named Director of Special Duties, while former Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo will serve as Deputy Director for Sports Sector Mobilisation.

The updated list also names all 32 APC governors as campaign coordinators in their respective states. However, the party’s governorship candidates will coordinate campaigns in Oyo, Bauchi and Abia, according to the published list.

Minister of Solid Minerals Dele Alake will retain his position as official spokesman for the campaign council. He will be supported by Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo, Abdulmumin Jibrin, Lere Olayinka, an aide to Wike, and Segun Sowunmi.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma will continue as secretary of the campaign council, assisted by APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Bashiru and Hadiza Bala-Usman as deputy and assistant secretaries, respectively.

Representative James Faleke was named Deputy Director-General for Election Planning, Coordination and Monitoring.

The expanded council also features 14 advisers, including Chief Bisi Akande, Aremo Segun Osoba, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, former senator Florence Ita-Giwa, former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, former APC National Secretary Iyiola Omisore and former Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun.

APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Bashiru announced that the campaign council would be inaugurated in Abuja.

Why Tinubu Insisted on Wike, Soludo, Adeleke

The decision to incorporate prominent non-APC figures reportedly followed resistance from some party stakeholders, who argued that their inclusion could marginalise loyal party members, weaken the APC’s identity and trigger friction in Rivers, Anambra and Osun states.

However, Presidency sources and campaign strategists said Tinubu remained committed to a broad-based campaign structure that would bring influential political allies under a unified command.

According to party sources, the President’s decision followed assurances of support from Wike, Soludo and Adeleke.

The arrangement is intended to consolidate campaign funding, logistics and grassroots mobilisation under designated coordinators, reduce duplication and prevent competing campaign structures from working at cross-purposes.

Supporters of the strategy believe that incorporating influential figures from other political parties into the formal council would give the President a wider electoral reach than relying solely on informal support groups.

The move underscores the Presidency’s effort to build a cross-party coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections, although it has reportedly generated concerns among sections of the APC.

Why I’m Leading Tinubu’s Campaign in Rivers, FCT — Wike

Speaking during a media chat in Abuja, Wike said his inclusion in the campaign council reflected the need to accommodate people outside the APC who were willing to contribute to Tinubu’s re-election bid.

“My thinking is that the president, in his wisdom, said there are those who are not members of our political parties but have something to offer to his re-election, and it’s proper to accommodate them,” he said.

The minister maintained that the campaign should unite all supporters of Tinubu, regardless of their political affiliations.

He also dismissed suggestions that the arrangement had created tensions between him and APC governors, insisting that the concerns being attributed to them did not exist.

‘Rainbow Coalition Has Come to Stay’

Wike declared that the Rainbow Coalition backing Tinubu’s re-election was permanent, warning critics against attempting to undermine the initiative.

“If you have any problem against me, come out and face Wike. Don’t go under the Rainbow Coalition. For Rainbow Coalition, it has come. It will stay. There is nothing anybody can do about it,” he said.

He explained that the coalition brings together APC members and supporters of the President from other political parties without seeking to displace the ruling party.

According to him, the APC remains the platform on which Tinubu will contest the presidential election, while supporters outside the party can work towards the same objective.

“The major thing is Mr President. Whatever we are going to do, whoever has any idea or anything to contribute is to the success of Mr President. That is the whole thing,” Wike said.

He cited the FCT as an example of how supporters of the President from different political backgrounds could cooperate while continuing to support their respective candidates for the National Assembly.

Wike also argued that cross-party alliances were not new to Nigerian politics, citing the collaboration between a PDP faction and the APC in Edo State that, according to him, helped defeat the preferred successor of then Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Describing opposition to the Rainbow Coalition as politically immature, he questioned claims that the arrangement would confuse supporters of other parties.

“Anybody who says he does not recognise the importance of rainbow coalition is not a politician. Anybody who said that is a baby politician. Is there any conflict? There is no conflict. How does it confuse people?” he asked.

Wike Predicts Tinubu’s Victory in First Ballot

The FCT minister expressed confidence that Tinubu would win the 2027 presidential election outright, ruling out the likelihood of a run-off.

“I have not seen any likelihood of a run-off,” he said.

He insisted that the President would be returned to office, adding that political support for Tinubu did not prevent other parties from fielding candidates at the state and legislative levels.

Wike also denied allegations that he was working against APC governors Hope Uzodimma of Imo, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara and Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe.

He maintained that his political affiliation entitled him to support candidates of his own party in other contests, even while backing Tinubu for president.

“The mere fact I supported President Tinubu, which I did in 2023, and I am still doing does not mean we cannot field candidates at other levels,” he said.

Why Fubara Is Not Coordinating Tinubu’s Campaign in Rivers

Wike said the political situation in Rivers State informed his appointment as the coordinator of Tinubu’s re-election campaign, rather than Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Describing Rivers as a peculiar political environment, he said the role required a leader with sufficient political influence and acceptance among stakeholders.

However, he rejected suggestions that Fubara had been sidelined, insisting that the governor would participate fully in the campaign at both state and national levels.

“He is happy with the role we are giving him. If he is not happy, why would you hold a meeting in his house?” Wike asked.

He said Fubara’s priority was to keep his political family united, adding that both men had forgiven each other and were now working together in support of Tinubu.

Wike blamed unnamed political figures for contributing to the rift between him and the governor, claiming that some people who did not mean well for Fubara had fuelled the crisis.

On whether he was positioning Fubara for a ministerial appointment after his tenure, Wike said such a decision rested with the President.

“I am not the president to choose who will be a minister. I don’t have right to nominate,” he said.

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