The All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors Forum and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have disagreed over the role of his “Rainbow Coalition” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The APC governors said they would not support any political alliance or parallel structure capable of weakening the party or undermining President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
But Wike dismissed the governors’ concerns, insisting that the Rainbow Coalition was not an APC structure and was focused on mobilising support for Tinubu across political parties.
Chairman of the APC Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, announced the governors’ position after their meeting in Abuja on Monday night.
Uzodimma said the governors had not entered into any formal agreement with individuals or opposition parties and would support only candidates sponsored by the APC in the 2027 elections.
“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 said.
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He added that the governors’ campaign commitment would be exclusively to APC candidates, with the party’s campaign structure aligned with Tinubu’s re-election objectives.
“In other words, the forum has no intention to support any candidate at any level that is not an APC candidate because our candidates who are contesting the election are being sponsored by our party,” Uzodimma said.
Wike Responds
Responding through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Wike said the Rainbow Coalition had nothing to do with the APC.
He said the coalition was a platform bringing together members of different political parties who supported Tinubu’s performance and wanted him re-elected in 2027.
Wike said his focus was to mobilise support for Tinubu rather than interfere in state-level political contests.
“Politics is local and those having problems in their States should resolve them instead of using the reelection of the President to whip up sentiments,” he said.
The FCT minister also questioned Uzodimma’s ability to secure strong support for Tinubu in Imo State during the 2023 presidential election.
He cited the fact that APC won two senatorial seats in Imo in the same election in which the party secured less than 15 per cent of the presidential vote in the state.
“In Imo State under Governor Hope Uzodimma, how did APC win two Senate seats in 2023, in an election held the same day with that of the President and APC had less than 15 percent in the presidential election? Was it Rainbow Coalition? Were the voters confused?” Wike asked.
He also pointed to the National Assembly results in Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu, where he said APC won legislative seats despite Tinubu recording less than 10 per cent of the presidential votes in those states.
Wike argued that the voting pattern showed that Nigerians could support different parties in presidential and legislative elections.
‘I Never Promised PDP Won’t Field Candidates’
Wike said he never reached an agreement with the APC before supporting Tinubu in 2023, adding that members of the former G5 governors also backed the President without such an arrangement.
He stressed that his support for 2027 was specifically for Tinubu and did not amount to an agreement that the PDP would withdraw from 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,” he said.
Wike maintained that the Rainbow Coalition was designed to mobilise support for Tinubu across party lines.
“Most importantly, Rainbow Coalition has nothing to do with the APC. Rather, it is our own way of mobilising support across political parties for Mr President, who has done well to deserve a second term,” he added.
The minister also said political leaders should concentrate on the presidential election before turning their attention to state contests.
“After the President must have been reelected, we can all go and face elections in our states,” Wike said.
The disagreement comes as political realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, with politicians across party lines forming alliances and exploring new political platforms.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.