By Damilola Samuel
Former President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Engr. Udengs Eradiri, has urged political leaders supporting President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 bid to work with the Rainbow Coalition led by Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Eradiri, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt, said the cross-party coalition could provide an additional mobilisation structure for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
His comments come amid disagreements within the All Progressives Congress over political alliances ahead of the election. The APC Governors’ Forum has said its members remain committed to the party and its candidates.
Eradiri, however, argued that political differences should not lead supporters of the President to reject structures working for his re-election.
He described Wike’s coalition as an initiative that could bring together supporters from different political platforms.
“Wike and his Rainbow Coalition should be seen as an added advantage to Tinubu’s re-election because the Rainbow Coalition was formed solely to work for Mr President and not to advance the interest of any governor.”
According to him, the coalition should be viewed as a complementary structure rather than a replacement for the ruling party.
He called on other governors and political leaders to develop similar mobilisation strategies that could broaden support for the President across political divides.
“Out of sheer ingenuity, Wike developed the Rainbow concept, which has gained traction as a powerful force of alliance.”
Eradiri also cautioned APC governors against allowing disagreements with Wike to affect cooperation with the coalition, arguing that those committed to Tinubu’s second-term bid should support initiatives directed towards that objective.
“The Minister has said that his interest is the re-election of the President. Therefore, the governors, who genuinely love the President, are expected to work with him to actualise that sole interest.”
He further urged political leaders to “think out of the box” and create structures capable of strengthening mobilisation ahead of the 2027 election.
Wike has repeatedly presented the Rainbow Coalition as a cross-party platform supporting Tinubu’s re-election, while recent reports show that some APC governors have distanced themselves from alliances outside the party.
