The Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) has formally ruled out supporting or participating in any political alliance outside the ruling party, rejecting the “Rainbow Coalition” framework promoted by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike ahead of the 2027 general elections. The decision was announced by PGF Chairman and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, following a closed-door meeting of All Progressives Congress (APC) governors held in Abuja on Monday night, September 14, 2026.
Why are APC governors moving against Wike’s Rainbow Coalition?
The Rainbow Coalition, championed by Wike, was conceived as a cross-party vehicle to consolidate support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid while allowing non-APC members and cross-party candidates to contest under alternative platforms at state and legislative levels. However, APC governors expressed strong concerns that supporting candidates outside the party structure would create divided loyalties, split votes, and weaken official APC candidates contesting governorship, National Assembly, and State Assembly seats.
“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.”
Reading the official communiqué, Uzodimma emphasized that the governors remain exclusively committed to candidates flying the official APC flag across all elective posts. He insisted that no external political arrangements or parallel structures would be recognized within state campaign architectures.
“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. The governors’ campaign commitment is exclusively to all APC candidates.”
Responding to the resolution through a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications, Lere Olayinka, Wike defended the Rainbow Coalition, clarifying that the movement is not affiliated with the APC structure but serves as a broader platform for Nigerians across political lines who back President Tinubu’s administration. Political observers note that the standoff highlights growing friction over state-level party control as key actors position themselves ahead of the 2027 election cycle. Will the APC leadership successfully enforce strict party discipline across state chapters as political realignments intensify?
