Rainbow coalition, anti-party activity against APC — Adegbomire

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Senator Adeniyi Adegbomire, on Monday described the Rainbow Coalition being championed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, as an anti-party move against the interest of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Adegbomire, who represents Ondo Central Senatorial District and the APC senatorial candidate for the 2027 election, said those promoting or aligning with the coalition were working against the interests of the ruling party and its candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking during a reception organised for him by party members on his arrival at the Akure Airport on Monday, the senator maintained that the grievances and perceived crisis within the APC in Ondo State would not undermine the party’s chances at the polls.

He declared that the opposition in the state lacked the strength to challenge the APC, saying some of the opposition parties were either dead or in the Intensive Care Unit.

Adegbomire said, “We are going to win. In fact, we have no opposition. I can tell that for free. I am going to Idanre to go and tell them that we own Idanre. I have absolutely no fear at all.

“I don’t know about any member of APC that is in the Rainbow Coalition. I always tell people nobody does anti-party. Nobody has come out to say he wants to do anti-party.”

On the grievances arising from the APC primary elections, the senator described them as normal occurrences in party politics, saying similar situations had occurred in previous elections without preventing the party from winning.

“What crisis? Some people are still aggrieved after the primary election. That is natural. When I won three years ago, there were aggrieved people. But I still won the election.

“There will be fallout out of the primaries. But at the end of the day, we will win as a party. We will work together in unity, and we will ensure that we are winning,” he said.

Adegbomire also criticised the promise by former Vice President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to restore petroleum subsidy if elected in 2027.

He argued that Nigerians should consider the broader economic consequences of subsidy policy rather than focusing only on the immediate cost of petrol.

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According to him, the choice should be between cheap petrol without regular salaries and an economy capable of supporting salaries, investment and improved earnings.

He said the Tinubu administration inherited states that struggled to meet their salary obligations, arguing that the current administration’s reforms were necessary to address deeper economic problems.

Adegbomire also cited infrastructure projects in Ondo State as evidence of what he described as the impact of improved government finances.

He said the country needed to move from short-term relief to policies that would stimulate investment, revive industries and create income for citizens.

“If people cannot invest, if people are afraid to invest, if industries are not working, then how do people have money in their pockets?” he asked.

The senator, however, acknowledged the hardship being experienced by Nigerians, saying the economic reforms had created difficulties for citizens but insisting that the government was working towards a stronger economy.

He also claimed that Nigeria’s foreign reserves had risen to more than $54 billion since the Tinubu administration came into office, describing the development as a significant achievement.

“Let us be factual. Let us not be emotional. However, I recognise the fact that people are going through hard times. But the reality of it is that we are trying to make Nigeria a better place.

“There would be problems. There would be challenges. But at the end of the day, there is light at the end of the tunnel. And that’s what Nigerians must understand,” he said.

Adegbomire further said recent election results in some states had strengthened his confidence in the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.

He expressed confidence that the party would win from the presidential election down to the House of Assembly elections.

“I do not doubt that APC will triumph. We will win from the President to the House of Assembly. I can assure you that,” he said.