Umahi Reveals What Wike Told Him About Candidates In Ebonyi Ahead Of 2027

Former Ebonyi State Governor and Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said he is not aware of any candidates being backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in Ebonyi State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Umahi made the clarification on Friday while speaking during an inspection of the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway in Benue State, amid ongoing political discussions surrounding Wike’s Rainbow Coalition.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Umahi maintained that there was no Rainbow Coalition in Ebonyi State, stressing that the state’s political structure remained aligned with the All Progressives Congress and its candidates.

Addressing reports about his relationship with Wike and suggestions that a similar political arrangement was being developed in Ebonyi, Umahi said Wike had not informed him of any candidates in 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.

Umahi also revisited his decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party, explaining that he believed the party had failed to adequately recognise the interests of the South-East.

He said the region had supported the PDP and its presidential candidates in previous elections but felt that its expectations were not sufficiently addressed.

“We supported PDP. We voted for presidents in PDP. And when it was our time for them to honour us, they did not honour us. They maltreated us,” Umahi said.

The former governor added that political actors were free to campaign in Ebonyi State but cautioned against hate speech and actions capable of causing disorder.

“Anybody that wants to campaign, come and campaign. But don’t dish out hate speeches,” he said, adding that nobody would be allowed to foment a crisis in the state.

His comments come amid a broader disagreement between Wike and some APC governors over the Rainbow Coalition and its implications for the 2027 elections. Wike has said the coalition is focused on mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu while allowing political parties to field their own candidates in other elections.