By Ayomide Otitoju
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has reaffirmed the state’s loyalty to the All Progressives Congress (APC), while dismissing reports of any disagreement with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, or the Rainbow Coalition associated with him.
Aiyedatiwa spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday while responding to questions about the cross-party coalition being championed by Wike.
The governor said he maintains a cordial relationship with the former Rivers State governor, stressing that his political allegiance in Ondo State remains firmly with the APC.
“In my state, it is APC all the way. That does not mean that I don’t have a relationship with Wike. I don’t have any problem with Wike,” Aiyedatiwa said.
He also defended the idea of the Rainbow Coalition, describing political alliances as a normal part of the political process.
According to him, politics is driven by interests, relationships and alliances, adding that individuals have the freedom to associate with political groups or coalitions of their choice.
Aiyedatiwa compared the Rainbow Coalition to the various support groups backing President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, saying there was nothing wrong with such a platform if its objective was to support the President.
“Politics is about interest, relationships, alliances, if you like. So, Rainbow Coalition being led by His Excellency, Honourable Minister Nyesom Wike, there is nothing wrong in having coalition or alliances. It’s all about interests and who wants to be part of that,” he said.
“There is freedom of association, of being a member of one group, coalition or another, just as we have a lot of support groups supporting the President. So, if Rainbow Coalition is also in the form of a support group for the President, what is wrong in that? Nothing.”
Wike, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been associated with the Rainbow Coalition, a cross-party political platform supporting Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
However, the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), the umbrella body of APC governors, has opposed a cross-party political arrangement involving APC members, arguing that such an alliance could undermine the President’s re-election campaign.
Wike has continued to reaffirm his support for Tinubu’s second-term bid, describing the President’s victory in the 2027 presidential election as his major political priority.
He has also dismissed allegations that the Rainbow Coalition was established to destabilise existing political parties.
