By Sofiat Adenekan-Abdul
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended his controversial Rainbow Coalition, insisting that his major political priority is to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
Wike, who spoke on Monday after inspecting ongoing infrastructure projects in Abuja, rejected claims that the coalition was designed to destabilise the All Progressives Congress or undermine Tinubu’s political standing. He said the platform was focused on mobilising support for the President across political parties.
The minister said he was not bothered by the criticisms against the coalition and promised to disclose what he described as the “real” reasons behind the opposition during a scheduled television appearance.
Wike also dismissed suggestions that the coalition was a strategy to position him for the 2031 presidential election, describing such speculation as premature. He recalled his participation in the 2022 PDP presidential primary, where he finished second, and said future political developments could not be predetermined.
Meanwhile, Wike expressed satisfaction with the progress of major Abuja infrastructure projects, saying contractors had committed to completing key projects before the 2027 general elections. He said the Inner Southern Expressway is expected to be handed over in December, while the Nile University–Ring Road 3 project is targeted for completion by the first week of January.
