Onoh Warns APC Against Wike’s ‘Rainbow Coalition’, Demands Full Membership

Former Southeast spokesman for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chairman of the Forum of Former Members of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Denge Josef Onoh, has warned the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) against what he described as the “dangerous” political activities of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

Onoh, in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, described the political alignment associated with Wike as a “Rainbow Coalition” and alleged that it could undermine the APC if allowed to influence the party’s internal structures.

He called on Wike to either formally join the APC or step aside from attempts to influence the party’s affairs.

Onoh described the coalition as a “Trojan horse” and a “political mirage”, alleging that it was driven by personal political interests rather than a coherent electoral structure.

“Let us stop playing the ostrich and looking for eggs in a furnace,” Onoh said.

“This so-called ‘Rainbow Coalition’ is a toxic distraction, a political mirage, and a well-calculated vehicle for personal ambition that will ultimately undermine the All Progressives Congress and jeopardise the presidential election if left unchecked.”

According to him, Wike’s political influence remains largely concentrated in Rivers State and should not be presented as a nationwide electoral structure capable of delivering block votes to President Tinubu.

‘Rainbow Coalition’ not G5

Onoh also rejected comparisons between the current political alignment and the G5 governors’ alliance that emerged ahead of the 2023 general elections.

He said the G5 was built around five sitting governors and a publicly articulated demand for regional equity, while the current coalition lacked comparable institutional structures.

Onoh recalled that former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and former Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, among others, played roles in the political realignment of the period.

He claimed that Ugwuanyi and his supporters worked to promote the APC in the Southeast during the 2023 elections, despite the former governor contesting the Enugu North Senatorial seat on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“The 2023 G5 was built on a loud, public principle of regional equity, leveraging the institutional power of five sitting governors,” he said.

Onoh argued that the current arrangement was different, describing its participants as former office holders and political actors without the institutional influence previously exercised by the G5 governors.

Accuses Wike of targeting APC governors

Onoh also criticised Wike’s recent political disagreements with Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma.

He alleged that the disagreements were part of an attempt to create political distractions while seeking influence over APC structures.

“Wike’s unprovoked media onslaught against Governor AbdulRazaq and Governor Uzodimma is nothing but a classic, textbook diversionary tactic,” he alleged.

“By attacking highly respected APC governors who are the authentic custodians of the party’s grassroots votes, Wike is actively sowing the same seeds of discord, insubordination, and structural decay that he used to tear the PDP apart.”

Onoh further alleged that Wike was attempting to replicate within the APC the internal political conflicts that weakened the PDP.

Warns against split-ticket voting

The former Enugu lawmaker also raised concerns over what he described as “split-ticket” voting, alleging that supporters of the coalition could encourage voters to back APC candidates at the presidential level while supporting opposition candidates in legislative and state elections.

He said such a strategy could affect the APC’s ability to secure legislative majorities.

“The presidential election runs concurrently with National Assembly votes,” Onoh said.

“Wike’s strategy instructs voters to vote for the APC at the top but support opposition candidates at the state and legislative levels. This cross-party cannibalisation is a direct threat to our party’s survival.”

He cited the 2023 elections in Enugu State as an example, claiming that the PDP suffered significant losses despite efforts by the then governor and other party actors to mobilise support for its candidates.

Onoh demands clear alignment

Onoh concluded by urging Wike to make his political allegiance clear, insisting that the minister should either formally register as an APC member or stop interfering in the party’s internal affairs.

“Nigeria’s political space has no room for double agents, political rent-collectors, or part-time allegiance,” he said.

“Our position is simple: either Nyesom Wike fully, formally, and unconditionally registers as a card-carrying member of the APC at his political ward, or he must step aside immediately.”

Onoh said the APC had sufficient grassroots structures and loyal members to support President Tinubu across the country without relying on what he described as Wike’s “damaging, self-serving distractions.”

“We will not sit by and watch our party’s foundation be dismantled under the guise of an artificial coalition,” he added.