2027: Ebonyi remains APC, no rainbow coalition, says Umahi

Minister of Works David Umahi has dismissed claims of a “rainbow coalition” in Ebonyi State, saying the state remains firmly aligned with the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections.

Umahi spoke on Friday while inspecting Section Two of the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway project in Ado, Benue State.

In a statement issued on Saturday by Francis Nwaze, his Senior Special Assistant on Media, the former Ebonyi governor said the state’s political structure remained committed to the APC and its candidates.

The minister was responding to questions about the political group led by Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, which is mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.

Umahi said he was unaware of any Wike-backed candidates operating in Ebonyi, adding that such candidates would not alter the political relationship within the state.

“If Wike has candidates here, he has not told me. And his candidate cannot break our relationship, but his candidate is not part of our relationship. There is no rainbow coalition in Ebonyi State,” he said.

The minister said politicians were free to campaign in the state but warned them against inflammatory statements or actions capable of causing unrest.

“Nobody can foment crisis in Ebonyi State,” Umahi said.

“Anybody that wants to campaign, come and campaign. But don’t dish out hate speeches and you want to take those speeches, and you want that we should lay a red carpet for you. We will not do that.”