2027: Senate embraces Rainbow Coalition, says it’s on course

The Senate on Tuesday declared that the Rainbow Coalition incorporated into the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was on course and would deliver victory for inclusive governance at the federal level in 2027.

The Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti-Central), and Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, made the remarks after the Senate adjourned proceedings early to enable serving senators who are members of the campaign council to attend its inauguration at the Presidential Villa.

Bamidele, who was called upon to move the motion for adjournment about 12:50 pm, sought the indulgence of his colleagues to make a few remarks on what he described as a historic development.

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He said the APC’s Presidential Campaign Council represented a Rainbow Coalition, with the Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, of the Accord Party; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as coordinator for the FCT and Rivers State; and Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe-North) serving as coordinator.

The leader stated, “My point, Mr President, is that in this country, in the best interests of the Nigerian people, a rainbow coalition indeed is on the move and very much on course.

“I think it is something that should not go unnoticed. We will proceed out of this chamber as members of the ruling party, accompanied by our colleagues, to go to the presidential campaign council.

“We look forward to a campaign that will really celebrate ideas and celebrate our democracy. I really congratulate you, Mr President.”

Responding, Akpabio described the Rainbow Coalition Presidential Campaign Council as “historic and uncommon”, adding that its electoral prospects were known even to senators such as Abdul Ningi (Bauchi-Central) of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Akpabio went on, “Let me also note, like you said, that this is historic and this is uncommon. This has never happened in the history of our democracy since 1999, that a sitting president will constitute his presidential campaign council with almost all the parties in Nigeria, inclusive.

“So, this is not just an inclusive government in terms of infrastructure. It’s not just an inclusive government in terms of revenue allocation and allotments; it’s not just an inclusive government in terms of giant strides in reform. It’s also an inclusive government in terms of unity, unity of purpose in democracy.

“The coalition is evidence of the fact that President Tinubu’s second term is going to be a unity government, just like his campaign council is a unity campaign council made up of almost all the political parties in the country.

“This is the way Nigeria should be. I’m not going to predict the outcome of the election, but I know that even Senator Abdul Ningi knows the outcome of the election.”

President Tinubu inaugurated the council at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday.