Powerful APC Blocs War Against Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, Warns Cross-Party Deal Threatens Tinubu’s Re-election and Party Survival

A major political storm is brewing within the All Progressives Congress (APC) as influential party blocs and state governors rise in sharp opposition to the multi-party “National Rainbow Coalition” promoted by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The coalition, conceived as a broad cross-party alignment, has been aggressively marketed by Wike as an inclusive vehicle designed to secure a landslide victory for President Bola Tinubu’s second-term bid. Under its operational framework, politicians and aggrieved blocs from varying political platforms are encouraged to throw their weight behind President Tinubu at the national level while pursuing or backing candidates of their choosing for legislative and state positions, regardless of party lines.

However, this strategy has triggered fierce pushback from top hierarchy figures within the ruling party. Meeting behind closed doors in Abuja, powerful blocs—including members of the Progressive Governors Forum—expressed deep apprehension that the coalition’s dual-track approach poses a direct threat to the structural integrity of the APC.

Party chieftains argue that while Wike maintains his loyalty is anchored on delivering the presidency to Tinubu, the reality on the ground in several states tells a contradictory story. In states like Kwara and Rivers, the coalition has integrated aggrieved former APC members and opposition networks—such as elements aligned with former Senate President Bukola Saraki in Kwara—to challenge certified APC structures directly. Critics note that fielding rival candidates under opposing banners while simultaneously claiming allegiance to the president creates severe ballot confusion among rural voters and risks starving APC candidates of the legislative numbers needed to govern effectively.

Weighing into the brewing controversy during recent media exchanges, Wike fired back at his critics, singling out governors like Imo State’s Hope Uzodimma and Kwara’s AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for leading an internal campaign against his coalition. The FCT minister maintained that his detractors were merely motivated by personal political discomfort rather than genuine concern for the president, arguing that his platform provides a much-needed sanctuary for disaffected politicians who would otherwise work against the administration.

“My priority remains securing President Tinubu’s return to office,” Wike insisted, challenging opponents to match his political investments.

Despite these defenses, top-tier party insiders maintain that separating the president’s electoral fortunes from the survival of the ruling party is a dangerous gamble. Alarmed stakeholders have intensified pressure on the national secretariat and the presidency to intervene, warning that if left unchecked, the Rainbow Coalition could inadvertently weaken the grassroots machinery of the APC and set the stage for deep post-election legislative friction.