By Ayodele Oni
A former South-East spokesman for President Bola Tinubu, Mr. Denge Josef Onoh, has faulted the Rainbow Coalition being put in place by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Nyesom Wike, describing it as a “Trojan horse”.
He maintained that the coalition was designed to create divisions within the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC), ahead of 2027, and lacks structure beyond Rivers State.
In a statement issued in Abuja, Mr. Onoh criticised the Rainbow coalition saying the political alliance could weaken the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
He urged APC stakeholders to reject any parallel structure and insisted that Wike registers as an APC member at his ward or steps aside immediately.
“This so-called ‘Rainbow Coalition’ is a toxic distraction, a political mirage, and a well-calculated vehicle for personal ambition that will ultimately undermine the All Progressives Congress and jeopardise the presidential election if left unchecked.”
Mr. Onoh argued that the coalition lacked the political structure required to deliver substantial votes to Tinubu beyond Rivers State.
He maintained that Wike’s political influence was largely concentrated in Rivers and questioned the attempt to extend what he called a “fractured blueprint” to other parts of the country.
He argued that Wike’s current coalition lacked the institutional structure and electoral reach previously associated with the G5.
“Today, Wike’s new ‘Rainbow Coalition’ has completely crumbled from that standard.
“It is not an alliance of powerful state executives; it is a desperate collection of political castaways, disgruntled ex-office holders, and floating political contractors who hold no real electoral value in their own political wards,” he said.
Mr. Onoh, who is also Chairman of the Forum of Former Members of the Enugu State House of Assembly, told Wike, to join APC formally or stop meddling in party affairs.
The former presidential aide also dismissed comparisons between Wike’s current alignment and the G5 governors’ alliance that emerged before the 2023 election.
According to him, the G5 was based on regional interests and consisted of five serving governors who controlled established political structures in their respective states.
Recalling his own involvement in efforts to strengthen the APC in the South-East while working with former Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Onoh said political realignments often came with consequences for those involved.
Mr. Onoh also criticised Wike’s recent disagreements with Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma.
He described the disputes as a “diversionary tactic”, alleging that the FCT minister was creating tensions in parts of the North-Central and South-East to weaken APC structures.
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