The Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, yesterday attended an emergency meeting of APC governors in Abuja, where critical issues affecting the party ahead of the 2027 general elections were discussed.
One of the major issues considered at the meeting was the growing political arrangement being described as “strategic partnerships” or the “Coalition of Rainbow.” The coalition involves politicians and groups from opposition parties who are seeking to work with the APC at the presidential level by supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election, while at the same time promoting candidates from their own political parties for other positions.
This has created concerns within the APC because such arrangements could mean that opposition politicians support the APC presidential candidate while working against APC candidates in governorship, National Assembly and other elections. A similar situation is playing out in Benue State, where members of the PDP are supporting President Tinubu at the presidential level while maintaining their own political interests and candidates at the state level. The PDP is expected to pursue the governorship and other elective positions against the APC in the state.
The situation in Rivers State has also become a major example of this political arrangement. Nyesom Wike, a member of the PDP who currently serves in President Tinubu’s administration, has remained politically influential in Rivers State and has continued to support political interests involving members of the PDP at both state and federal levels.
For the APC governors, the concern is that allowing such arrangements to spread could weaken the party from within, create conflicting political interests and make it difficult for APC candidates to work together ahead of the 2027 elections. At the Abuja meeting, the APC governors reportedly took a united position against alliances that could undermine the party’s candidates and organisational strength. They stressed the importance of unity, loyalty and a coordinated strategy as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections.
The position of the governors is clear: support for President Tinubu at the presidential level should not become a platform for weakening APC candidates at the state and federal levels. With the 2027 elections approaching, the APC is increasingly focused on building a united political structure capable of protecting the party’s interests across all levels of government.
