The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has described those opposing the Rainbow Coalition as ‘baby’ politicians.
He said there was no conflict between supporting President Bola Tinubu and backing candidates from other political parties.
Wike made the remarks on Tuesday in Abuja during his monthly media chat, where he dismissed concerns that the coalition could confuse supporters or affect their loyalty to candidates contesting other positions.
According to him, politicians should understand that supporting a presidential candidate does not mean abandoning candidates of their own parties, particularly those seeking seats in the National Assembly.
“Anybody who says he does not recognise the importance of the Rainbow Coalition is not a politician. Anybody who says that is a baby politician,” Wike said.
He said there was no contradiction in supporting Tinubu while also backing candidates from other political parties, questioning how such an arrangement could confuse voters.
“I supported the APC in Edo State despite being a member of the PDP because different political groups came together to defeat Obaseki’s preferred successor,” Wike said.
He explained that a PDP faction known as the legacy group, led by the late Chief Dan Orbih, had joined forces with the APC during the political contest.
According to Wike, the alliance helped the APC defeat Obaseki’s preferred successor, arguing that the outcome could have been different without cooperation between the two groups.
He added that the APC would have found it difficult to defeat Obaseki’s preferred successor without the legacy group’s support.