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| Abdulmumin Jibrin |
House of Representatives member Abdulmumin Jibrin has rejected the idea that the emerging Rainbow Coalition linked to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike poses a danger to President Bola Tinubu’s re-election prospects in 2027.
Speaking on TVC News’ Sunday Politics, Jibrin argued that the cross-party alliance could actually help the president expand his support beyond the All Progressives Congress (APC). His comments came in response to the Progressive Governors Forum’s recent resolution against any political arrangement that might weaken the APC, harm its candidates, or undermine Tinubu’s bid for a second term.
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Call for dialogue instead of confrontation
Jibrin advised APC governors to engage Wike through negotiation rather than open opposition. He described the FCT minister as a major political force whose influence the governors themselves appear to recognise.
“For me, the Rainbow Coalition has no negative effect on the President,” Jibrin stated. “If the governors perceive that the Rainbow Coalition will affect them, what you need to do is negotiate with Wike.”
He noted that concerns about the coalition’s potential impact on governorship and legislative races effectively concede Wike’s ability to shape outcomes, including the production of House of Representatives members. In that situation, Jibrin asked, is the better response confrontation or engagement?
Wike as a political “deal maker”
The lawmaker portrayed Wike as a skilled deal-maker capable of building relationships across party lines—an asset that could benefit Tinubu. He went further, saying the APC would benefit from having more politicians of Wike’s type.
“This is a point where we need more Wikes,” Jibrin said. He added that if Wike were not currently aligned with the APC side, he would likely have been able to assemble a similar coalition for the opposition. In his view, the opposition currently lacks such a figure.
Jibrin also opposed formal membership for Wike in the APC, arguing that the minister is more useful operating outside the party’s formal structures.
“If today you ask me, should Wike come into APC, I will say no. Because APC needs him better outside than inside APC,” he explained.
Politics of interest
Responding to labels of Wike as a “destroyer,” Jibrin framed politics as driven by interests and negotiation rather than fixed loyalties. He said Wike’s interests had been affected and that the minister now believes those interests are better protected through alliance with the current administration.
Jibrin therefore urged APC governors to recognise Wike’s broader political network and treat the Rainbow Coalition as a potential resource rather than an adversarial project as the 2027 elections approach.
The remarks highlight ongoing debates within and around the ruling party about how best to manage cross-party support for Tinubu while protecting APC candidates at state and legislative levels.
Samuel O. Sulaimon is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Naijapiz. He covers News, Sports, Finance, Faiths, Education, Technology.
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