All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership in the South-East has rejected the political coalition being promoted by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, declaring its support for the party’s governors and candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The position was contained in a joint statement signed by the APC National Vice Chairman, South-East, Dr Ijeomah Arodiogbu, and the party chairmen in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states.
The development followed the decision of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), led by Imo State Governor and its chairman, Senator Hope Uzodimma, to reject any political arrangement capable of weakening the APC or affecting its candidates in the 2027 elections.
Uzodimma had announced the governors’ position after their meeting in Abuja, saying the forum would not participate in or endorse any alliance that could undermine President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid or APC candidates at any level.
Reacting to Wike’s position and the controversy surrounding the coalition, the South-East APC leaders described the FCT minister’s rejection of the governors’ stance as ‘most unfortunate, reprehensible and completely unacceptable.’
The party leaders said the governors’ position was aimed at protecting the interests of APC candidates, from the presidency to the state Houses of Assembly, stressing that their views should not be disregarded.
‘Progressive Governors are not abstract politicians; they are performing leaders whose records speak for themselves,’ the statement said.
The South-East APC leaders also expressed concern over what they described as Wike’s alleged attempts to undermine sitting progressive governors ahead of the 2027 elections.
‘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.
They subsequently pledged their support for the APC governors and candidates across the region, while warning against attempts to create alternative structures capable of weakening the party.
‘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.
The disagreement comes amid an ongoing public exchange between Wike and APC governors over his Rainbow Coalition.
Wike has maintained that the coalition is not affiliated with the APC and that its primary objective is to support President Tinubu’s re-election, while the APC governors have insisted on backing the party’s candidates at all levels.