2027: Aggrieved APC Members Join Forces With Wilke's Rainbow Coalition To Unseat Governors
Bassey BASSEY
AHEAD of 2027 general elections, a good number of aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have joined forces with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike's Rainbow Coalition to fight some sitting governors over mishandling of party primaries.
Some of the APC members, who are said to have aligned with Wike's Coalition include party leaders, NASS members displaced at the just-concluded primaries, those marginalised or dissatisfied with the performance of some governors.
While some aggrieved members are said to have been having discreet meetings with Wike, some have openly identified with the FCT Minister as seen in the last inspection or commissioning of some projects within the capital territory.
This development is giving nightmare to the Progressive Governors who feel aligning with the Coalition is deepening tensions within the ruling party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Recall that the Progressive Governors Forum, led by Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, has raised eye-brows over the coalition, describing it as a threat to President Bola Tinubu's re-election.
The Coalition,, THE BEAGLE NEWS gathered is gradually permeating some states in South South, South East, South West and North Central.
It was learnt that the aggrieved APC members are in about 11 states including Ebonyi, Cross River, Imo, Kwara, Osun, Katsina, Ondo, Ogun and Gombe.
Some of the aggrieved members are former Communications Minister, Isa Pantami, Kwara Central Senator, Saliu Mustapha and Tajudeen Olesin said he left the APC after being maltreated. They accused the governors of being afraid of opposition, and are fronting Uzodinma as Senate President in 2027.
A national leader of the APC, who spoke anonymously, described the coalition as an alternative platform for aggrieved members who might otherwise join the ADC.
"Wike has the support of the President on his Rainbow Coalition," he said, adding that many members are backing the minister because of how the governors handled the party primaries.
Another party official said those who felt cheated in the primaries had resolved to work for Tinubu, whose victory remains the party's main concern, but work against the governors of their respective states.
*Rainbow coalition berths in Cross River*
Checks revealed that Bassey Akiba and Dr Alex Egbona, former APC lawmakers representing Municipality/Oddukpani and Abi/ Yakurr federal constituencies respectively, got their tickets back in PDP through Wike's Rainbow Coalition. The duo were denied tickets in APC.
A few others, who tired to navigate to PDP to secure back their seats but didn't scale through the hurdles, are romancing with Rainbow Coalition and are likely to flex muscles to prove that they are not as unpopular as they were portrayed during the primary elections in the constituencies.
A top party leader in Cross River, who felt dissatisfied with the outcome of party primaries, said some NASS members and their supporters are working hand-in gloves with the Coalition against Governor Bassey Otu.
The party stalwart, who don't want his name mentioned, disclosed that about seven NASS members are already in Rainbow Coalition and have vowed to deploy their resources to fight back during Governorship election since they have been declared personal non- Grattan by APC.
According to him, "the aggrieved members are totally in support of President Tinubu but are not for the Governor, who they claimed treated them like a pack of cards. Till, today nobody has reached out to them and they are not happy after putting in so much to build the party right from former Governor Ben Ayade's defection."
A reliable source close to PDP secretariat at Mary Slessor Avenue, Calabar, confided in the THE BEAGLE NEWS that some APC members, who are aggrieved, are working with the Rainbow Coalition in Cross River.
The source hinted that the APC members have been working behind the scene as they have been assured of appointments if the party wins in 2027 governorship election.
However, one of the aides of Governor Bassey Otu, told THE BEAGLE NEWS that Rainbow Coalition antics will not work in Cross River State because the people are wiser now and will fight to wade off "political invaders."
The aide, who is close to the party leadership and spoke on condition of anonymity, said: "We know that some of our members, who lost out at the primaries, are very angry. We can understand, but I can tell you we are a family in Cross River APC and machinery has been put in place to reach out to all and calm frayed nerves.
"It is normal in election for some to win and some to lose out. What is important is getting every back on board again. I can tell you that Governor Bassey Otu is a grassroots politicians who has played opposition politics before now. So. He knows how to navigate the ship when the water is very turbulent.
"All I can say for now is that our APC NASS members will work together to deliver Otu. I want to believe that all you are hearing is from the rumour mills and an attempt to glorify Rainbow Coalition in the state. Very soon you will see all us in one campaign train."
*THE BEAGLE NEWS*
