APC Governors Reject Wike-Backed Coalition, Pledge Support for Tinubu’s 2027 Bid
By Nafiu Muhammad Lema
Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have rejected any political arrangement capable of creating parallel structures within the party, in an apparent response to the Rainbow Coalition associated with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The position was announced by the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, after a closed-door meeting of APC governors in Abuja on Monday night.
Uzodimma said the governors had resolved to focus exclusively on supporting candidates officially sponsored by the APC at all levels ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the governors would not participate in, endorse or support any political alliance that could undermine President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election, weaken the APC or affect its candidates.
“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.”
He added that the forum would not support candidates contesting elections under other political platforms, stressing that the governors’ campaign activities would remain aligned with the APC’s official structure and Tinubu’s re-election agenda.
Uzodimma also announced that APC governors would take responsibility for coordinating President Tinubu’s re-election campaign in their respective states.
The development comes amid growing political tension over the Rainbow Coalition, which Wike has continued to describe as an platform for mobilising support for Tinubu across different political parties rather than an APC structure.
Wike: Coalition is for Tinubu, not APC
Reacting to the governors’ position, Wike said his political activities ahead of 2027 were focused on securing support for President Tinubu and not on interfering in state-level elections.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, the FCT minister said the Rainbow Coalition had no connection with the APC.
Wike maintained that the coalition was made up of members of different political parties who were willing to support Tinubu’s re-election.
He also questioned the political record of Governor Uzodimma, particularly the performance of the APC in Imo State during the 2023 presidential election.
Wike cited the difference between the APC’s performance in the presidential election and its victories in some National Assembly constituencies, arguing that voters could distinguish between different elections.
He said the same pattern occurred in Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi states, where voters supported APC candidates in some legislative elections while giving their presidential votes to other parties.
The minister said he would concentrate on mobilising support for Tinubu and would not promise to prevent opposition parties from fielding candidates for governorship or legislative elections.
“What I said and stand for is that I will mobilise support for the re-election of the President. I never promised anyone that PDP will not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and States House of Assembly elections.”
Wike urged political stakeholders to prioritise Tinubu’s presidential campaign, saying other political contests could be addressed after the presidential election.
PDP backs Wike
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also weighed into the dispute, defending Wike’s right to support Tinubu while retaining his membership of the opposition party.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, the PDP described Wike as a significant political figure ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party argued that Wike’s support for Tinubu did not amount to abandoning the PDP or joining the APC.
“Wike has every constitutional and democratic right to decide whom he supports politically. His support for President Tinubu is legitimate, and as a serving appointee of the President, there is nothing contradictory about supporting the President while maintaining his political identity and relationships within the PDP,” the party said.
The PDP further criticised the APC governors’ opposition to political arrangements outside the APC, saying political parties have the right to field candidates for elections.
It argued that any attempt to prevent Wike from supporting Tinubu while maintaining his political affiliations would amount to an attempt to restrict his political choices.
The dispute highlights the emerging complexities within Nigeria’s political landscape as parties, governors and political blocs position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
