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The National Secretary of the Rainbow Coalition, Mr. Austin Agada, has said the group was mobilising political parties to support the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in 2027 but was not working for Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue state.
Agada, who is also the factional chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue, told newsmen on Friday in Makurdi.
He said the Coalition was open to political parties, including the APC, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other parties that shared its objective
“Like the name implies, the Rainbow Coalition is a voluntary organisation of political parties coming together in the belief of one thing, and that is the re-election of Mr. President Bola Tinubu,” he said.
He identified the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as the leader of the movement.
According to him, the Coalition’s activities could extend to state-level elections, depending on the commitment of individual governors and political leaders to its objectives.
He said the group could support incumbent governors seeking re-election or candidates seeking to succeed them, provided they met its expectations.
Asked whether the Coalition would support Governor Alia’s re-election, Agada gave a conditional response, saying the governor had yet to engage the group or provide sufficient reasons for its support.
“I am working with Wike in respect of this coalition. The Benue governor has not engaged the group to secure its backing,” he said.
Agada also questioned the governor’s relationship with the APC leadership, alleging that Alia had rejected a proposal for incumbents to seek a second term approved by the president.
He said the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, delivered the president’s directive during the Benue APC peace and reconciliation meeting in May.
According to him, the proposal was accepted by the party leadership, but the governor allegedly supported other aspirants to contest against the arrangement.
Agada further alleged that some political actors, including former Benue governor Sen. Gabriel Suswam, were involved in legal actions challenging the party’s position.
“If he has no respect for the party, has no respect for Mr. President and has no respect for the national chairman, the party will teach him a lesson,” he said.
On the APC’s governorship candidacy in Benue ahead of the 2027 elections, Agada said the party was working to resolve the process of producing its candidate.
He, however, did not name a preferred governorship candidate for the Rainbow Coalition or announce a formal endorsement of any aspirant. (NAN)
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