From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
President Bola Tinubu’s decision to accommodate politicians from different political parties in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, has sparked debate over party loyalty, political alliances and the future of opposition politics ahead of the 2027 general election.
While some observers view the arrangement as a demonstration of political pragmatism and a willingness to build alliances beyond party boundaries, others believe it could encourage anti-party activities and weaken ideological consistency in Nigeria’s multiparty democracy.
The debate followed the inauguration of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where Tinubu charged members to secure votes in their respective wards, insisting that their contributions would only be recognised when they delivered electoral results.
The council’s composition has attracted attention because of the involvement of political figures associated with parties other than the APC, including Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, a prominent figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
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The arrangement, described by some observers as a rainbow coalition, has generated differing interpretations of the president’s political strategy and its implications for party loyalty.
Babaelesin Ola, Public Affairs Analyst, described the development as a troubling precedent for Nigeria’s democracy, arguing that it could normalise political disloyalty within party structures.
“Rainbow coalition is a mixed bag of intrigue to the Nigerian democracy. It has normalised the doctrine of anti-party among players,” Ola said.
He argued that allowing politicians to openly campaign for candidates outside their political parties without facing consequences could weaken party discipline and undermine the country’s democratic system.
However, public relations professional and public affairs analyst, Omo’ba ’Yemi Adurotoye, offered a different interpretation, describing the arrangement as evidence of Tinubu’s willingness to build alliances across political divides.
According to him, the presence of politicians affiliated with different parties at the campaign council’s inauguration demonstrates the president’s approach to political coalition-building.
“At the Presidential Campaign Council inauguration, aside men and women of APC, seeing the likes of Governor Chukwuma Soludo of APGA, Governor Ademola Adeleke of Accord, Nyesom Wike, who is even a serving minister but of PDP, and Governor Alex Otti of Labour Party, points to the fact that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, encourages alliance across party lines,” Adurotoye said.
He described Tinubu as a politician who understands the importance of strategy and political negotiations, adding that the participation of figures from different political backgrounds should be viewed within the broader context of coalition-building.
“You may choose to call it Rainbow Coalition or whatever,” he said.
Adurotoye also welcomed Tinubu’s decision to prioritise governance while allowing the campaign council to coordinate political mobilisation across the country.
He said the president’s position that the demands of campaigning should not distract him from his official responsibilities was consistent with the need to maintain government operations during the election period.
“No Constitution forbid alliance across different parties, it is in line with putting governance first,” he said, adding that the arrangement did not remove citizens’ freedom to make their own choices at the ballot box.
Another commentator, Azeez Champion, described the development as a sign of changing political calculations in Nigeria, arguing that politicians were increasingly placing strategic interests above longstanding party divisions.
“Nigeria politics is evolving and becoming mature. One can eliminate individual political style towards success. It shows that success is more important in politicking to the President,” Champion said.
He maintained that the development offered a lesson about the fluid nature of political relationships, noting that politicians who disagree publicly may still cooperate on other interests.
“It also teaches masses lessons that they should be more mature as in politics there are no permanent enemies or permanent friends. Interest matters,” he said.
Champion urged Nigerians not to allow political differences among leaders to create divisions among citizens, arguing that the public should distinguish between political competition and personal relationships among politicians.
Meanwhile, Pension Olorunfemi expressed confidence in the potential electoral implications of the arrangement, arguing that opposition parties would need to coordinate their strategies if they hoped to challenge the APC effectively.
“With such a strategic arrangement, he has won the election already. There are no two ways about it,” Olorunfemi said.
He, however, acknowledged that opposition parties could present a stronger challenge if they combined their political structures and rallied behind a single candidate.
According to him, a divided opposition could struggle to consolidate its support, particularly if the ruling party maintains a coordinated mobilisation structure.
The contrasting reactions reflect broader questions about the relationship between political alliances, party discipline and electoral competition in Nigeria.
While supporters of cross-party cooperation argue that political engagement should not be restricted by party membership, critics contend that such arrangements could blur ideological distinctions and weaken accountability within political parties.
Tinubu, who is seeking re-election in 2027, has directed campaign officials to concentrate on grassroots mobilisation while assuring Nigerians that governance will continue throughout the campaign period.
The debate over the rainbow coalition is therefore likely to remain part of the political conversation as parties and their leaders position themselves for the next general election.
