APC Governors Reject Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, Vow Full Loyalty to Tinubu in 2027
Abuja, Nigeria—September 14, 2026—All Progressives Congress (APC) governors on Monday night drew a firm line against political experiments that could divide the ruling party, declaring they will not back any candidates or coalitions outside the APC fold ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Progressive Governors Forum, chaired by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, held a closed-door meeting at the Imo State Governors’ Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja.
After the session, Uzodimma read a communique making clear that the governors would take full charge of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign in their respective states and refuse any political arrangement capable of undermining the President or weakening APC candidates at every level.
Direct Response to Growing Friction with Wike
The meeting and subsequent statement are widely seen as a direct response to the National Rainbow Coalition promoted by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike.
The coalition has drawn sharp criticism from several APC governors who fear it could confuse voters and split votes by fielding candidates under other party platforms while publicly claiming support for Tinubu.
Tensions have been building for weeks. Sources close to the governors previously raised alarms that the arrangement risked creating a situation where supporters of the President might vote for opposition candidates in legislative and state contests.
Wike has insisted the coalition exists solely to expand Tinubu’s support base, but some governors view it as a parallel structure that threatens party cohesion.
Governors Take Charge of the Campaign
In the communique, the forum resolved to align all levels of the party’s campaign structure with Tinubu’s re-election bid and the broader objectives of the APC.
Although the party has already unveiled its national presidential campaign council, the governors emphasized they will remain at the forefront of mobilization in their states.
The decision marks a clear assertion of the governors’ role as the primary drivers of the ruling party’s electoral machinery on the ground.
It also signals that any cross-party alliances or “rainbow” arrangements will not receive official endorsement from the Progressive Governors Forum.
Broader Political Context
The development comes amid intensifying jockeying within the APC as the 2027 election cycle approaches.
Wike, who remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party while serving in the Tinubu administration, has faced repeated calls from some party figures to fully join the APC or step back from activities seen as disruptive.
Supporters of the Rainbow Coalition argue it broadens the President’s reach by bringing in stakeholders from other platforms.
Critics within the APC counter that it risks diluting the party’s identity and handing opponents opportunities to exploit voter confusion.
For now, the governors have spoken with one voice: loyalty to the APC ticket and to President Tinubu’s second-term ambition comes first.
How the Presidency and Wike respond to this firm position will shape the next phase of the ruling party’s internal dynamics.
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