South-East APC Leaders Back Governors, Reject Wike’s ‘Rainbow Coalition

The All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership in the South-East has endorsed the position of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) to support all APC candidates in the 2027 general elections, while rejecting the political “Rainbow Coalition” associated with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The position was contained in a joint statement signed by APC National Vice Chairman (South-East), Dr Ijeomah Arodiogbu, and the party chairmen in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states.

The South-East leaders said they fully aligned with the PGF’s position that APC members and structures should support the party’s candidates from the presidential election down to the Senate, House of Representatives, governorship and state House of Assembly contests.

The development comes amid an escalating disagreement between Wike and APC governors over the role of his proposed Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.

APC governors, led by PGF Chairman and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, recently said they would not participate in or support any political arrangement capable of weakening the APC or affecting the party’s candidates at any level.

Wike has, however, maintained that his coalition is primarily focused on supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election and is not an APC structure. He has also argued that supporting Tinubu for president does not require members of the coalition to

support APC candidates in other elections.

In their statement, the South-East APC leaders condemned what they described as Wike’s attacks on members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, saying elected governors should be treated with respect.

They accused the FCT Minister of attempting to interfere in the political fortunes of sitting APC governors ahead of the 2027 elections.

The leaders also argued that the governors had demonstrated their electoral strength and pointed to their performance in their respective states as a reason for opposing what they described as attacks against them.

They called on Wike to withdraw his criticisms and return to what they described as “party discipline, mutual respect and collective responsibility.”

The South-East APC leadership further rejected what it called the “rainbow (chameleon) coalition” in the region, warning against any political arrangement that could undermine APC structures or candidates.

“We in the South East stand solidly with all Progressive Governors and candidates of our party at all levels in the forthcoming 2027 elections,” the leaders said.

They added that the APC was bigger than any individual and urged party members in the region to remain committed to the party’s candidates.

The latest statement adds a regional dimension to the growing disagreement within the APC camp over political alliances ahead of the 2027 elections.

While the APC Governors’ Forum has insisted that its members will campaign for APC candidates across the ballot, Wike has maintained that his coalition is designed to mobilise support for Tinubu’s presidential bid while allowing political parties to field candidates in other contests.