Minister of Works and former Ebonyi State governor David Umahi has dismissed reports of a Rainbow Coalition in Ebonyi, saying the state remains aligned with the All Progressives Congress and its candidates.
Umahi made the clarification on Friday, September 25, 2026, while inspecting the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway in Benue State.
Addressing reports of a political arrangement similar to the coalition associated with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike, Umahi said there was no such platform in Ebonyi.
“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 defended his decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party, saying the party failed to adequately recognise the interests of the South-East despite the region’s support for its presidential candidates.
“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,” he said.
He said politicians were free to campaign in Ebonyi but warned against hate speech and attempts to create disorder.
“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,” Umahi said.
“Nobody can foment crisis in Ebonyi State,” he added.
The minister also rejected claims that he had concentrated Federal Government projects in the South-East, saying infrastructure projects were being distributed across the country.
“I saw on social media where they say I cornered all projects to Southeast. That is very wonderful. But we have the publication of all projects ongoing by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, so they darken counsel without knowledge,” he said.
Umahi said the South-East might not rank first, second or third in the distribution of projects but would not be last.
He linked his support for President Bola Tinubu to the administration’s infrastructure programme and argued that Nigerians should assess the government by projects being executed.
The minister cited the Calabar-Abuja Superhighway as one of the projects, saying Section Two covers about 173.6 kilometres and has a contract value of about N683bn, while Section One is valued at about N454bn.
During the inspection, Umahi directed contractors not to demolish buildings along the existing alignment until the Federal Government completes its review and makes any necessary adjustments.
“My directive is that no building should be touched. Even if it’s within the alignment, I have to come and realign it. So you just have to continue your work and go around those buildings until we come to look at it,” he said.
He also ordered contractors to accelerate construction and open additional work fronts while engineers address challenges around the Ado Bridge.
“I do not believe in engineering that anything is impossible,” Umahi said.
On the 2027 presidential election, Umahi said his support for Tinubu was based on the President’s policies, reforms and infrastructure programme. He also argued that continuity was necessary for major projects that require several years to complete.
“If, God forbid, another person says he’s President, all these projects will be stalled. And I don’t think Ebonyi wants their projects to be stalled,” he said.
Umahi also addressed the nomination of his son as chairman of Ohaozara Local Government Area, saying the nomination was made by Governor Francis Nwifuru.
He said he had advised his son to ensure that development was distributed equitably across the council’s 11 wards.
“I have advised him, don’t do anything for the people of Uburu because you are from Uburu. It has to be equitably distributed among the eleven council wards in Ohaozara Local Government,” he said.
No Rainbow Coalition in Ebonyi, Umahi declares
