A founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Okoi Obono-Obla, has questioned the opposition of some governors to the “Rainbow Coalition” initiated by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
Obono-Obla, while speaking on Arise News, argued that there was nothing improper about Wike’s move to unite politicians from different platforms in support of President Bola Tinubu.
He noted that political alliances involving members of different parties were not uncommon and had been used in other countries to build support for candidates.
The APC chieftain said Wike had consistently expressed his backing for Tinubu, adding that individuals from outside the APC could also support the President.
Obono-Obla attributed the emergence of the coalition to what he described as growing dissatisfaction among some APC members.
He accused several governors of weakening the party by controlling its structures, favouring loyalists and determining candidates without sufficient input from other members.
According to him, some long-standing APC members have been sidelined despite their contributions to the party.
He argued that the situation had created an opening for Wike to attract members who felt excluded from their respective party structures.
Obono-Obla also rejected concerns that the coalition would automatically create divisions during elections.
He explained that voters could support Tinubu for president while choosing candidates from other parties in governorship contests.
The APC founding member said the governors were uncomfortable with Wike’s initiative because of the political dissatisfaction within their states.
He maintained that although he supports Tinubu, his support for the President would not prevent him from rejecting candidates he believes were imposed on party members without their consent.
