Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that the emerging Rainbow Coalition will confuse voters, saying a similar voting pattern occurred in Rivers State during the 2023 general elections. Wike made the statement during an interview with TVC News’ Journalists’ Hangout on Monday, September 21. The……
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that the emerging Rainbow Coalition will confuse voters, saying a similar voting pattern occurred in Rivers State during the 2023 general elections.
Wike made the statement during an interview with TVC News’ Journalists’ Hangout on Monday, September 21.
The minister recalled that members of the G5 governors supported President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election while backing candidates of their respective parties in other elections.
According to Wike, the arrangement did not prevent Rivers voters from making different choices across the various elections.
“We said we are going to support Mr. President, but we never said that all our candidates in other elections will fail. We never said so,” he said.
Wike said Rivers State supported the presidential candidate backed by the G5 while candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the National Assembly and other state elections.
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“And to the glory of God, particularly Rivers State supported Ahmed Bola Tinubu, he won the presidential election. But in National Assembly election and the other state elections, PDP won,” he said.
He therefore rejected arguments that the Rainbow Coalition would create confusion among voters ahead of future elections.
“I feel so bad when I hear people now talk about Rainbow Coalition will affect or will confuse people in voting,” Wike said.
The FCT Minister argued that voters affiliated with different political parties could still understand which candidates they wanted to support in separate elections.
“If there’s confusion, well, who will be affected more? You are in APC, they are supporting President and then you have their candidates to support National Assembly. I’m in PDP, I’m supporting President, I’m telling my candidates to support. Now who will be more confused?” he asked.
Wike said the claim that the coalition would confuse voters was therefore unfounded.
“Let Nigerians know and know it well is that all this cry about Rainbow Coalition will confuse people is not true,” he said.
He also criticised some state governors who, according to him, had left their states to speak against the coalition in Abuja.
Wike questioned whether it was appropriate for a governor to leave his state to attend a press conference against the coalition.
“If a governor can leave his state and go to Abuja merely to have a press conference to say that they are disturbed by this Rainbow Coalition, then you have a question to ask,” he said.
The minister also referenced governors, including Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, whom he accused of having internal political challenges while opposing his support for Tinubu.
“Some of them who have their own problems, who cannot solve their own internal problem, think that they can muscle me because I say I’m going to support Mr. President and therefore people will not have their candidates,” Wike said.
“With all due respect, it’s not correct. It’s not correct,” he added.
