The Kwara State chapter of the Accord Party has criticised the emerging Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 elections, questioning its grassroots support and arguing that its political strategy could undermine its credibility among voters.
The party said the coalition’s reported plan to support President Bola Tinubu at the federal level while challenging the All Progressives Congress in Kwara could create confusion among voters about its political identity and objectives.
The position was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Olamilekan Esinrogunjo, and obtained by PUNCH Online in Ilorin.
The party argued that political alliances built around influential politicians and former officeholders would not automatically translate into electoral support without a clear programme addressing the concerns of ordinary residents.
It also questioned whether the coalition had articulated a coherent governance agenda beyond the political realignments taking place ahead of the elections.
“You cannot claim to be opposition in Kwara and, at the same time, ask the same people to support the APC at the presidential level. That contradiction is one of the fundamental problems of the Rainbow Coalition,” the statement read.
Accord maintained that voters would ultimately determine the outcome of the elections based on the candidates, policies and programmes presented to them, rather than endorsements from prominent political figures.
“They can make noise here and there. Politicians can move from one party to another, but votes do not move automatically with them. An alliance of politicians is not necessarily an alliance of voters,” the party added.
Why the Rainbow Coalition is drawing attention
The criticism comes amid political realignments in Kwara following disagreements within the APC over its internal arrangements and the selection of candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Rainbow Coalition, promoted nationally by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, has attracted politicians from different parties who say they intend to support Tinubu’s re-election while retaining different political alignments at the state level.
In Kwara, the coalition has become associated with aggrieved APC politicians and groups aligning with former Senate President Bukola Saraki and the PDP.
Senator Saliu Mustapha, who represents Kwara Central, announced his defection from the APC to the PDP in August after disagreements within the ruling party. He subsequently secured the PDP ticket for the 2027 Kwara Central senatorial election.
Mustapha has said the political realignment does not amount to abandoning Tinubu, explaining that the coalition intends to support the President nationally while pursuing different political objectives in Kwara.
The arrangement has generated debate about whether support for a presidential candidate can coexist with opposition to that candidate’s party at the state level. Supporters of the coalition have defended the arrangement as a legitimate political alliance, while critics have questioned its consistency and implications for party politics.
Accord challenges coalition’s political message
Esinrogunjo questioned what the coalition intended to offer Kwarans beyond political realignments and the involvement of prominent political figures.
“What is the Rainbow Coalition offering Kwarans beyond political realignment? Is it an opposition platform, a vehicle for supporting the President, a return to the defeated dynasty or simply an arrangement among politicians seeking new political opportunities?” the statement asked.
The party argued that the coalition’s ability to attract influential politicians would not necessarily demonstrate that voters had accepted its agenda.
It also challenged the assumption that the involvement of former officeholders and established political networks would automatically produce electoral gains.
According to Accord, political parties seeking public support should present clear manifestoes, explain their policy priorities and demonstrate how their proposals would address the state’s challenges.
The party described itself as an alternative platform focused on policy-driven politics and grassroots mobilisation, urging residents to scrutinise the records and proposals of candidates contesting the elections.
“Kwara is not anybody’s political inheritance. The people own their votes, and they will decide who gets their mandate,” the statement said.
The latest exchange adds to the political contest taking shape in Kwara ahead of 2027, as parties and alliances seek to build support among voters.
Whether the Rainbow Coalition can translate its political partnerships into electoral backing will ultimately be determined by voter participation and the results of the elections.
