RismadarVoice Reporters
September 18, 2026
A Peoples Democratic Party chieftain in Kwara State, Tajudeen Olesin, has backed the Nyesom Wike-led Rainbow Coalition, arguing that governors elected on the All Progressives Congress platform should not determine the political alliances President Bola Tinubu embraces ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Olesin, who recently defected from the APC to the PDP, spoke while reacting to the position of APC governors on the Wike-led coalition.
The governors had stated that they would not support any political arrangement capable of weakening the APC, undermining Tinubu’s re-election bid or affecting the party’s candidates in the 2027 elections.
Olesin rejected the governors’ position, maintaining that political actors and parties had the right to form alliances and support candidates of their choice.
“Wike is the leader of the coalition, and he has every political right to decide who the coalition will work with and support in the election,” Olesin said.
He questioned attempts to restrict cross-party political cooperation, asking: “Are political parties without presidential candidates forbidden from working with a presidential candidate of their choice?”
“There is no democratic principle that says a political party must support only a candidate produced on its own platform,” he added.
‘SHOW NIGERIANS YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS’
Olesin urged the APC governors to focus on their records in office and explain how resources available to their states had translated into improvements in the lives of residents.
“If the governors are proud of their achievements, let them showcase what they have been able to achieve with the allocations they have received so far,” he said.
“Governors should show Nigerians how increased resources have translated into better lives for ordinary citizens.”
Olesin further argued that governors should not assume responsibility for deciding the President’s political relationships.
“No governor should assume the responsibility of determining which political relationships the President should accept,” he said.
He urged them instead to concentrate on governance, strengthen their party structures and make their case directly to voters.
“They should face governance, engage their people, strengthen their party structures and persuade voters with their records rather than attempting to dictate the limits of political alliances,” Olesin added.
Concluding, the former APC member insisted that the electorate would ultimately determine the political direction of the country in 2027.
“The coalition has come to stay. Rather than fighting it, let every political actor return to the people, present their records, make their case and allow Nigerians to decide,” Olesin said.
