The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said he and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, remain members of the same political family despite differences over the controversial Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Umahi made the clarification on Wednesday in Abuja while addressing journalists on Federal Government’s infrastructure projects.
The former Ebonyi State governor dismissed reports of a serious disagreement between him and Wike, saying their political relationship had remained intact despite attempts by opponents to portray them as being at loggerheads.
“We need Wike as Wike needs us. So, it’s one family,” Umahi said.Follow Politics
His comments came against the backdrop of earlier disagreements within the All Progressives Congress over the Rainbow Coalition, a political platform promoted by Wike to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
Wike has repeatedly maintained that the coalition is not an APC platform and that its objective is to bring politicians from different parties together to support Tinubu at the presidential level.
He has also argued that politicians can support Tinubu for president while remaining in their respective political parties and making their own choices in governorship and legislative elections.Access Services
The position has, however, generated concerns among some APC leaders, particularly governors who fear that such an arrangement could affect the party’s candidates in other elections.
In September, Umahi had rejected reports of a Rainbow Coalition arrangement in Ebonyi State while speaking during an inspection of the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway in Benue State.
When asked about his relationship with Wike and claims that a similar political structure was being established in Ebonyi, Umahi said there was no such arrangement in the state.Follow Politics
“If Wike has candidates here, he has not told me. And his candidate cannot break our relationship, but his candidate is not part of our relationship. There is no rainbow coalition in Ebonyi State,” he said.
The APC leadership in the South-East had also earlier rejected the Rainbow Coalition and expressed support for the Progressive Governors’ Forum led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma.Track Exec Orders
The South-East APC leadership, comprising party structures in Ebonyi, Abia, Anambra, Enugu and Imo states, had criticised Wike’s remarks against governors who opposed his political arrangement and vowed to resist moves capable of weakening the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Uzodimma had similarly said the governors would not participate in or endorse an alliance that could undermine Tinubu’s re-election, the APC or its candidates at other levels.
Wike, however, has continued to defend the coalition, insisting that it was designed specifically to secure support for Tinubu.