2027: APC Governors Reject Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, Back Only Party Candidates

Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have resolved not to support political alliances or parallel structures capable of weakening the ruling party or undermining President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to reports, the position was disclosed on Monday night by the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, following a high-level meeting of APC governors held at the Imo State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.

The development comes amid disagreements within the APC over the Rainbow Coalition being promoted by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Some members of the ruling party have reportedly expressed concerns that the activities of the coalition, particularly its decision to field candidates under different political platforms, could split APC votes and potentially affect the party’s performance in the 2027 elections.

Reading the communique issued after the meeting, Uzodimma said the APC governors had agreed to concentrate their support on candidates officially sponsored by the ruling party.

He said the governors would neither participate in nor endorse political arrangements that could create divided loyalty, weaken the APC or work against its candidates at any level.

“The APC Governors Forum unanimously resolved that its members will not participate in, support or endorse any alliance or political arrangement capable of undermining the re-election of Mr President, weakening the APC or adversely affecting any candidate of the party at all levels,” Uzodimma said.

The Imo governor further clarified that the forum would not support candidates contesting elections outside the APC, stressing that the party’s candidates were officially sponsored by the ruling party.

He added that the governors’ campaign efforts would be directed exclusively towards APC candidates and would remain aligned with President Tinubu’s expectations and the strategic objectives of the party.

“The governors’ campaign commitment is exclusively to all APC candidates. All levels of the party campaign architecture will align with the expectations of Mr President and the strategic objectives of the party,” he said.

Wike, who remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has consistently maintained that the Rainbow Coalition is primarily focused on supporting President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

The latest position by the APC governors, however, signals a clear determination by the ruling party’s state leaders to maintain party unity and ensure that their political support remains within the APC structure ahead of the 2027 elections.