David Umahi, minister of works, 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.
The rainbow coalition, led by Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
In a statement issued on Saturday by Francis Nwaze, his senior special assistant on media, Umahi said politicians were free to campaign in Ebonyi but warned against hate speech and actions capable of triggering unrest.
“Nobody can foment crisis in Ebonyi State,” Umahi said.
He also said he was unaware of any candidates backed by Wike 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.”
Umahi warns against hate speech
The former Ebonyi governor urged politicians seeking support in the state to conduct their campaigns peacefully.
“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,” he said.
Umahi also criticised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing the party of failing to recognise the interests of the South-East despite the region’s past support for its presidential candidates.
“We supported the PDP. We voted for presidents in the PDP. And when it was our time for them to honour us, they did not honour us. They mistreated us,” Umahi added.
The comments come as political activity intensifies ahead of the 2027 elections, with different political groups seeking support across the country.
