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

The All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership in the south-east has backed the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) in calling for all candidates of the party to receive its support in the 2027 general election.

The APC leaders also rejected what they described as the “Rainbow (chameleon) Coalition”, warning that the party would resist any attempt to undermine its structures in the region.

The position was contained in a joint statement issued on Thursday and signed by Ijeomah Arodiogbu, national vice-chairman of the APC in the south-east, and the party chairmen in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.

The development followed the PGF’s Position on Monday that it would not support any alliance or political arrangement capable of undermining President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid or the party’s candidates in the 2027 election
The governors were reportedly referring to the Rainbow Coalition, a cross-party alliance founded by Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), which is backing Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Wike, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP said in January that the coalition represented a shift from conventional party politics towards a collective political movement focused on advancing the interests of the state.

NO MINISTER SHOULD DICTATE TO GOVERNORS’

Backing the PGF, the south-east APC leaders said supporting the party’s candidates from the presidency to the state houses of assembly was necessary to secure a comprehensive victory in the 2027 elections.

They also condemned Wike’s recent attacks on members of the PGF, describing his remarks as “most unfortunate, reprehensible and completely unacceptable”.

The leaders said the governors being criticised by Wike had delivered significant development in their respective states and secured more than 25 percent of the presidential vote in their states during the 2023 election.

“Progressive Governors are not abstract politicians; they are performing leaders whose records speak for themselves,” they said.

The APC leaders described the governors as independently elected leaders who deserved respect, regardless of political differences.
They accused Wike of attempting to influence the political fortunes of serving APC governors ahead of the 2027 elections, insisting that no minister should assume authority over elected state chief executives.

“It is more troubling that Wike’s growing tendency to insult, diminish and plot to remove sitting Progressive Governors in 2027 is increasing each day,” they said.

The leaders called on the FCT minister to withdraw his attacks on the governors and return to what they described as “party discipline, mutual respect and collective responsibility”.

The south-east APC leadership said it would not allow any political arrangement to weaken the party’s structures or diminish the influence of its candidates in the region.

“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 statement said.

They maintained that the APC was “bigger than any individual” and urged members to rally behind the party’s candidates at every level in the 2027 elections.

The leaders said the PGF’s position was consistent with the need for party cohesion and coordinated support for APC candidates across the country.

They consequently called on party members in the south-east to remain committed to the APC’s structures and candidates as the party prepares for the 2027 elections.

Source: The Cable