Minister of Works and former Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, has rejected reports of a political alliance linked to the “Rainbow Coalition” in Ebonyi State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Umahi declared that Ebonyi remained firmly aligned with the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its candidates, distancing himself from any political arrangement associated with the coalition promoted by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The former governor spoke on Friday, September 25, 2026, during an inspection of the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway in Benue State.
Wike has consistently described the coalition as a cross-party platform for mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
He has also argued that politicians can support Tinubu at the presidential level while remaining in their respective political parties and making independent choices in governorship and legislative elections.
However, the arrangement has faced opposition from sections of the APC, including governors who believe political alliances outside the party could affect APC candidates in other elections.
Against this background, Umahi was asked about his relationship with Wike and reports that a similar political arrangement was being established in Ebonyi.
The former governor dismissed the suggestion.
“If Wike has candidates here, he has not told me. And his candidate cannot break our relationship, but his candidate is not part of our relationship. There is no rainbow coalition in Ebonyi State.”
Earlier in September, the APC leadership in the South-East also rejected the Rainbow Coalition and declared its support for the Progressive Governors’ Forum, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma.
The South-East APC leadership, which includes the party structures in Ebonyi, Abia, Anambra, Enugu and Imo states, criticised Wike’s comments against governors opposed to his political arrangement.
The leaders said they would resist moves they believed could weaken the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
Uzodimma had said the governors would not participate in, support or endorse an alliance that could undermine Tinubu’s re-election bid, the APC or its candidates at different levels.
Wike, however, has rejected the criticism.
The FCT minister has repeatedly said that the Rainbow Coalition is not an APC platform and that its primary objective is to mobilise support for Tinubu.
He has also argued that supporting the President does not mean that politicians must abandon their political parties or support APC candidates in every election.
“Most importantly, Rainbow Coalition has nothing to do with the APC. Rather, it is my own way of mobilising support across political parties for Mr President, who has done well to deserve a second term,” Wike said in an earlier statement.
Umahi, who governed Ebonyi before joining the APC and later becoming a minister, also used the occasion to explain his political break from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
He said his decision to leave the PDP was influenced by what he described as the party’s failure to adequately recognise the interests of the South-East.
“We supported PDP. We voted for presidents in PDP. And when it was our time for them to honour us, they did not honour us. They maltreated us,” Umahi said.
The minister also warned politicians who intend to campaign in Ebonyi against making statements capable of creating tension in the state.
He said political campaigns were allowed but warned against hate speech and attempts to cause disorder.
“Anybody that wants to campaign, come and campaign. But don’t dish out hate speeches and you want to take those speeches, and you want that we should lay a red carpet for you. We will not do that,” he said.
“Nobody can foment crisis in Ebonyi State,” the minister added.
Umahi also addressed claims that he had concentrated Federal Government projects in the South-East because of his position as Works Minister.
He rejected the allegation and said the infrastructure projects being executed across the country were part of the Tinubu administration’s wider programme.
“I saw on social media where they say I cornered all projects to Southeast. That is very wonderful. But we have the publication of all projects ongoing by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, so they darken counsel without knowledge,” he said.
“I’m not on my own. The President is my boss. So where will he be when I corner all projects to Southeast?” Umahi asked.
According to the minister, the South-East is receiving infrastructure projects under the administration, although he acknowledged that the region may not be first in the distribution of projects.
He said the important point was that the region would not be left behind.
The Works Minister also made his support for Tinubu’s 2027 presidential bid clear, linking his position to the administration’s infrastructure projects and reforms.
“What gave rise to this is because I believe in President Bola Tinubu. I believe that he’s the one called by God. I believe in his vision. I believe in his reforms. I believe he’s the best person that I have worked with and for, and I’m very proud of working for him and working with him,” he said.
Umahi argued that continuity would be important for major infrastructure projects because several of them require years to complete.
“If, God forbid, another person says he’s President, all these projects will be stalled. And I don’t think Ebonyi wants their projects to be stalled,” he said.
