Chibudom Nwuche, former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and chairman of the South-South Development Commission, has described the Rainbow Coalition initiated by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as a political breakthrough that is expanding President Bola Tinubu’s support base ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Nwuche also praised Wike for what he called his strong performance in the Federal Capital Territory, as well as his political skills and ability to devise new strategies.
In an electronic statement issued on Monday, Nwuche said the coalition had created a political bridge across party lines, allowing politicians and other influential figures to support Tinubu’s re-election without necessarily leaving their existing parties.
“The Rainbow Coalition is a political masterstroke,” he said. “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 rejected suggestions that the coalition could undermine Tinubu’s prospects in 2027, arguing that expanding the president’s political constituency could only strengthen his chances.
“Those suggesting that bringing more Nigerians into President Tinubu’s support base will weaken his chances in 2027 fundamentally misunderstand how political coalitions work,” he said.
“Every additional constituency, political stakeholder, or community that identifies with the President’s interest strengthens, rather than weakens, his electoral prospects.”
Addressing claims that the Rainbow Coalition had created uncertainty in Rivers State, Nwuche dismissed the allegations as speculation.
“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 to secure support for Tinubu, its governorship candidate and National and State Assembly candidates in the 2027 elections.
“We will be working assiduously to ensure that the good people of Rivers State vote massively for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the coalition’s governorship candidate, as well as the National and State Assembly candidates in the 2027 general elections.”
Nwuche said the coalition would adopt a similar approach in states across the federation, describing it as a significant advantage for Tinubu’s re-election campaign.
He urged politicians, particularly members of the ruling All Progressives Congress who oppose the coalition, to concentrate on the electoral work needed to secure victory for the president rather than directing their efforts towards attacks on Wike and the coalition.
According to Nwuche, politicians should focus on their polling units, wards, local government areas and states if they are genuinely committed to securing Tinubu’s re-election.
He also called on Nigerians across political, religious and ethnic divides to support the president, arguing that continuity and stability were necessary to consolidate the economic reforms introduced by the administration.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains the best choice for the future prosperity of Nigeria,” he said.
Nwuche acknowledged that the reforms had imposed significant hardship on Nigerians but expressed confidence that their benefits would become more visible with time.
He argued that meaningful economic transformation required consistency, policy stability and sufficient time for reforms to take effect.
The former deputy speaker also warned Nigerians against what he described as “bogus promises, fanciful projections and economic hallucinations” from some presidential candidates ahead of the 2027 election.
Many of those promises, he said, appeared detached from Nigeria’s current economic circumstances and the wider global economy.
Nigeria, he argued, could not afford to repeatedly abandon difficult policies only to embark on another round of economic experimentation.
“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,” Nwuche said.
