APC Governors Reject Wike’s Rainbow Coalition

By Ayodele Oni

Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), have rejected any arrangements that could weaken the party or hurt its candidates, ahead 2027 polls.

Apparently reacting to the Rainbow Coalition being put in place by the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, the governors rejected any political alliance outside the party.

The governors maintained that their campaign efforts would focus exclusively on candidates contesting under the APC.

Chairman of the APC Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, announced the position after the forum’s meeting in Abuja on Monday night.

Uzodimma pointed out that the governors have not entered into any agreement with individuals or opposition parties ahead of the elections.

His declaration comes amid moves by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to build a Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State.

Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, has been mobilising politicians in support of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

He recently alleged that Uzodinma and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, were behind some of his political challenges.

Wike linked the dispute to the growing influence of his Rainbow Coalition across the country.

He believed that the coalition could provide a platform for politicians seeking to challenge APC candidates in governorship and senatorial contests.

However, the APC governors’ latest position appears to draw a clear line against such political arrangements.

Uzodimma pointed out that the forum would not support any alliance capable of creating divided loyalty within the party.

He equally maintained that the governors would also reject arrangements that could weaken the APC or hurt its candidates.

“The forum has no intention to support any candidate at any level that is not an APC candidate,” Uzodimma said.

He explained that the party sponsors the candidates contesting the elections and, therefore, deserves the governors’ full political support.

The Imo governor also revealed that the forum would align its campaign activities with Tinubu’s expectations and the party’s strategic objectives.

He added that the governors remained committed to supporting all APC candidates across the various levels of the 2027 elections.

The development could affect efforts by political groups outside the APC to build cross-party structures ahead of the elections.

For the APC governors, however, the priority remains protecting the party’s candidates and strengthening its political structure.

The forum’s position also signals that its members do not intend to endorse political arrangements that could conflict with the interests of the ruling party.