The All Progressives Congress governors have declared that their forum will not support any candidate outside the ruling party in the 2027 general elections.
The APC governors stated this during a high-level meeting of the Progressive Governors Forum held at the Imo State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja on Monday.
The Chairman of the Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, who read the communique, declared that the governors would not participate in any political alliance or arrangement capable of undermining President Bola Tinubu’s re-election or weakening the APC.
“The forum unanimously resolved that each member will not participate in, support or endorsing any political alliance or political arrangement capable of undermining the reelection of Mr President, weakening the APC or adversely affecting any candidate of the party at all levels”, Mr Uzodimma stated.
The forum, which reiterated that the elections of all the APC candidates are being sponsored by the party, noted that any political arrangements capable of fuelling divided loyalty and competing interests within the party would not be entertained.
“In other words, the forum has not intention to support any candidate at any level if it’s not from APC. The elections of our candidates are being sponsored by our party.
“The governors’ campaign commitment is exclusively to all APC candidates. All levels of the party campaign architecture will align with the expectations of Mr President and the strategic objectives of the party,” Mr Uzodimma added.
The forum’s decision came as Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike declared support for Mr Tinubu ahead of the 2027 election.
Mr Wike’s Rainbow Coalition has continued to gather momentum, particularly in states such as Kwara, Gombe, Rivers and others.
Meanwhile, in a statement by his spokesperson Lere Olayinka on Tuesday, Mr Wike said his support for Mr Tinubu remained sacrosanct, saying he never promised that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not field candidates in the forthcoming elections.
The minister, who insisted the rainbow coalition had nothing to do with the APC, accused some governors of using the president’s re-election to whip up sentiments.
“What I said and stand for is that I will mobilise support for the re-election of the President. I never promised anyone that PDP will not field candidates to contest governorship, National Assembly and States House of Assembly elections,” Mr Wike stated.
The minister added, “Most importantly, rainbow coalition has nothing to do with the APC. Rather, it is own way of mobilising support accross political parties for Mr President, who has done well to deserve a second term,” he said.