Rainbow Coalition: Wike Has Not Told Me He Has Candidates In Ebonyi – Umahi

Former Ebonyi State Governor and Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said there is no “Rainbow Coalition” in Ebonyi State, insisting that the state remains aligned with the All Progressives Congress and its candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Umahi made the declaration amid the ongoing political disagreements between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and some APC governors over political arrangements ahead of the elections.

The minister spoke on Friday, September 25, 2026, during an inspection of Section Two of the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway at Ado, Benue State.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, Umahi directed the contractors handling the project to accelerate construction.

Speaking on his relationship with Wike and reports of a similar political arrangement in Ebonyi, Umahi said the FCT minister had not informed him of any candidates in the state.

“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.”

The Rainbow Coalition is a multi-party political platform associated with Wike and aimed at mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Wike has said the platform is separate from the APC and allows politicians from different parties to support Tinubu for president while retaining the freedom to contest or support candidates in other elections.

Umahi, who defected from the PDP to the APC in 2020, also revisited his reasons for leaving the opposition party, accusing it of failing 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.

He, however, said politicians seeking to campaign in Ebonyi were free to do so, warning them against hate speech and actions that could threaten peace in the state.

“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 defends Tinubu, infrastructure projects

Umahi also defended his support for President Tinubu and dismissed claims that he had concentrated federal infrastructure projects in the South-East.

“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.

He said the South-East was receiving infrastructure projects as part of the Federal Government’s broader development programme, adding that while the region might not rank first, second or third in project distribution, “definitely they will not be the last.”

The minister urged Nigerians to assess the administration based on projects being executed rather than campaign promises.

“We tell our story. It’s not a question of saying, ‘I will do this, I’ll do this.’ What about the one that the person is doing? Let us compare the past with the present,” he said.

He cited the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway as one of the major infrastructure projects being executed by the Federal Government.

According to Umahi, Section Two of the highway covers about 173.6 kilometres and has a contract value of about N683bn, while Section One is valued at about N454bn.

During the inspection in Benue State, the minister directed contractors not to demolish buildings along the current alignment until the Federal Government completes its review and, where necessary, realigns the route.

“My directive is that no building should be touched. Even if it’s within the alignment, I have to come and realign it. So you just have to continue your work and go around those buildings until we come to look at it,” he said.

He also directed the contractors to accelerate work and open additional sections of the highway while engineers resolve challenges around the Ado Bridge.

“I do not believe in engineering that anything is impossible,” Umahi said.

Why I support Tinubu

The minister also defended his support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election, saying his position was informed by the President’s policies and infrastructure programme.

“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 said continuity was crucial for major infrastructure projects, particularly those that require several 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.

Umahi speaks on son’s nomination

On his son’s nomination as chairman of Ohaozara Local Government Area, Umahi said the nomination was made by Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru and not by him.

He said he had advised his son to ensure equitable development across the 11 wards in the local government area.

“I have advised him, don’t do anything for the people of Uburu because you are from Uburu. It has to be equitably distributed among the eleven council wards in Ohaozara Local Government,” he said.