The Progressives Governors Forum has rejected the proposed Rainbow Coalition being championed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, insisting that its members will support only APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

The governors reached the position at a meeting on Monday night at the Imo State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja. Imo State Governor and forum chairman, Hope Uzodinma, said any alliance that could weaken the APC or undermine President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election would not be supported.

“The forum unanimously resolved that its members won’t participate in, support or endorse any 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,” Uzodinma said.

The development comes as Wike continues efforts to build a coalition involving politicians across party lines, with some former APC members securing PDP tickets after losing their party primaries.

Wike, however, maintained that his support for Tinubu’s re-election remains firm, arguing that backing the President does not require him to support APC candidates in other elections.

Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time, he said Tinubu was aware of his political activities and that he was not answerable to APC governors over his strategy.

“I have told you here, there’s never been a day I said, and Mr President knows, and there’s nothing I have done that I have never told Mr President, ‘This is what I intend to do,’” Wike said.

He cited the G-5 governors’ support for Tinubu in 2023 as an example of politicians supporting a presidential candidate outside their party, saying voters could similarly back different parties in presidential and legislative elections.

Wike also challenged APC governors to demonstrate their influence in their respective states, questioning the political strength of governors whose states did not deliver victory for Tinubu in 2023.

“A governor that is influential, their president cannot win election in his state, still sees himself as being influential?” he asked.

The FCT Minister described those opposing his coalition as “politically lazy”, saying they had failed to understand the political dynamics ahead of the 2027 elections.