Former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido has firmly distanced himself from the proposed Rainbow Coalition being pushed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. The coalition aims to gather support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Lamido dismissed suggestions that he was working with Wike's camp or planning to endorse President Tinubu, according to Punch. The former governor stressed that his loyalty remains completely with the Peoples Democratic Party, declaring that he will vote for its candidates at every level.
Lamido revealed that he was never contacted or invited to be part of Wike's initiative. He stated that the former Rivers State governor is running the political arrangement independently without his input. Lamido noted that the two of them have not held any discussions concerning the 2027 general elections since their last meeting shortly after the PDP national convention.
The former Jigawa governor also rejected claims that Wike had done more to keep the opposition party together. While acknowledging that Wike provides financial backing to the party, Lamido argued that his own legal intervention was far more important to the party's foundation.
He explained that his legal challenge at the Supreme Court successfully led to the nullification of the PDP national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State. Lamido had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja after being denied the chance to pick up nomination forms to contest for the party's national chairmanship position.
Wike, who governed Rivers State between 2015 and 2023, has maintained that members of opposition parties can back President Tinubu for the presidency while supporting their own parties for other elective posts. However, this stance has continued to generate friction among party leaders who question his dual role as an opposition figure and a serving cabinet member in the ruling administration.
