By Opeyemi Adelakun
Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the South-South Development Commission, Chibudom Nwuche, has said the political coalition initiated by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, will improve President Bola Tinubu’s chances of securing re-election in 2027.
Nwuche described the Rainbow Coalition as a strategic political arrangement capable of attracting support for Tinubu from politicians and groups outside the ruling All Progressives Congress without forcing them to leave their respective parties.
In a statement issued on Monday, the former deputy speaker also praised Wike’s performance in the FCT, as well as his political approach and ability to build alliances across party lines.
He said the coalition had created an avenue for opposition politicians and other political actors to back Tinubu while retaining their membership of their existing parties.
“The Rainbow Coalition is a political masterstroke. It has created leeway and an important political opening that allows individuals and groups who may belong to opposition parties to support the President’s re-election without necessarily having to abandon their political parties,” Nwuche said.
He rejected suggestions that the coalition could hurt Tinubu’s electoral prospects, arguing that expanding the president’s support base would strengthen rather than weaken his chances.
According to him, the addition of new political constituencies, communities and influential stakeholders to Tinubu’s support network would give the president a broader electoral base ahead of the 2027 poll.
Nwuche also dismissed claims that the coalition had created uncertainty over the political situation in Rivers State.
“There is no confusion or uncertainty whatsoever over the choice of the coalition’s consensus governorship candidate in Rivers State,” he said.
He added that members of the coalition would work towards securing votes for Tinubu, its governorship candidate and candidates contesting National and State Assembly seats in the 2027 elections.
Nwuche urged politicians, particularly members of the APC opposed to the coalition, to concentrate on building support for the president at the polling-unit, ward, local government and state levels rather than campaigning against Wike and the coalition.
He further called on Nigerians across political, religious and ethnic divides to support Tinubu’s re-election, arguing that continuity and policy stability were necessary for the government’s economic reforms to deliver results.
Nwuche acknowledged that the reforms had imposed difficulties on Nigerians but maintained that the policies required time and consistency to produce their expected benefits.
He also cautioned voters against what he described as unrealistic promises being made by some presidential aspirants ahead of 2027.
“What Nigeria needs now is not a return to the past, but the courage to complete the journey towards a stronger, more productive and prosperous nation,” he said.
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