The All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership in the South-East has rejected what it described as the “rainbow (chameleon) coalition” in the region, declaring its support for the party’s Progressive Governors and candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The South-East APC leaders also endorsed the position of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) that all APC candidates should receive the support of the party, from the presidency to the state Houses of Assembly, in the forthcoming 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 leaders said the PGF’s call for comprehensive support for APC candidates was necessary to secure victory for the party at all levels in 2027.

They also condemned recent attacks by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on members of the PGF, describing his remarks as “most unfortunate, reprehensible and completely unacceptable.”

According to the South-East APC leaders, Wike’s criticisms were directed at governors who had delivered significant development in their respective states and secured more than 25 per cent of the presidential votes in their states during the 2023 election.

“Progressive Governors are not abstract politicians; they are performing leaders whose records speak for themselves,” the statement said.

The party leaders stressed that the governors were independently elected leaders who should be treated with respect, arguing that political differences should not be used to diminish their constitutional roles.

They further accused Wike of seeking to influence the political fortunes of sitting APC governors ahead of the 2027 elections.

The South-East APC leadership argued that no minister should assume authority over elected governors or seek to determine their political future.

“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.

The leaders therefore called on the FCT Minister to withdraw his attacks on the governors and return to what they described as “party discipline, mutual respect and collective responsibility.”

They also warned against attempts by political groups to weaken the APC’s structures in the South-East ahead of the 2027 elections.

Rejecting what they called the “rainbow (chameleon) coalition,” the party leaders said the APC would resist any move aimed at undermining its organisation or candidates in the region.

“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 leaders maintained that the APC remained larger than individual political interests and urged members to work collectively for the success of the party.

They called on APC members across the South-East to support President Bola Tinubu and all other party candidates, from the presidency down to the state Houses of Assembly, in the 2027 elections.

The leaders maintained that a united party structure would be critical to the APC’s campaign and electoral efforts across the South-East geopolitical zone of the country. (Guardian)