FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has hinted at plans to build what he described as the “largest rainbow coalition” to support President Bola Tinubu’s bid for re-election in 2027.
Wike made the remarks while speaking with reporters in Abuja on Friday, following a visit by Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke to his residence on Thursday.
He argued that the opposition would struggle to stop Tinubu’s re-election, particularly after Adeleke joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to Wike, the opposition parties have little capacity to alter the political equation, describing the 2027 presidential election as already a “walkover” for Tinubu.
“In the next few weeks, watch what is going to happen. You will see the largest rainbow coalition supporting President Tinubu,” he said.
Meanwhile, Wike’s remarks comes just a day after Governor Adeleke visited him, following his victory in the just concluded Osun State elections and receiving his certificate of return from INEC.
Adeleke affirmed his backing for President Tinubu after securing reelection as Osun State Governor in last week’s tightly contested poll. Although, the Osun State governor had earlier declared his support for Tinubu, long before his re-election
Following the receipt of his Certificate of Return, the governor—accompanied by his nephew, the Afrobeat musician David Adeleke (popularly known as Davido)—visited Wike in Abuja on Thursday.
Backstory…
The meeting occurred just hours after the governor held a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
Around 5:20–5:25 p.m., Adeleke arrived at the Villa dressed in traditional attire, accompanied by National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu and several Osun State officials, including his chief of staff and campaign director-general.
During the meeting, the governor presented his certificate of return and expressed gratitude for the conduct of the August 15 governorship election.
Adeleke’s camp dismisses APC defection rumours after visit to Tinubu
In related development, the Imole Campaign Council has dismissed rumors alleging that Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke plans to defect from the Accord Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC) following his recent meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement issued on Friday by Bamidele Salam, Chairman of the council’s Media and Publicity Committee, the group clarified that Adeleke’s visit to the President was simply a routine political courtesy extended after the conclusion of off-cycle elections in Nigeria.
It read in part, “The Imole Campaign Council wishes to state that the visit by Osun State Governor, Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke to His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday is in line with customs and political tradition at the conclusion of off cycle elections in Nigeria.”
The council added that, as the winner of the recently concluded Osun governorship election, Adeleke was obligated to show respect to the office of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Addressing speculation that the meeting signalled plans for Adeleke to join the ruling APC, the campaign council firmly denied any such discussion.
Larger Rainbow Coalition
Meanwhile, the larger Rainbow coalition as described and championed by the FCT minister Nyesom Wike, is a larger national “rainbow coalition” that will soon emerge to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in the 2027 presidential election.
Wike said the emerging coalition would continue to attract political figures from different parties and regions, insisting that the outcome of the 2027 presidential election was already taking shape in favour of Tinubu.
Read Also: Ademola Adeleke Meets Wike, Shows FCT Minister Certificate of Return
