APC Governors Reject Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, Insist on Party Loyalty

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum has rejected political alliances capable of weakening the ruling party or creating divided loyalty among its members ahead of the 2027 general elections, in an apparent response to the Rainbow Coalition being promoted by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

The governors, after a closed-door meeting in Abuja, resolved that they would not participate in, support or endorse any political arrangement capable of undermining President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, weakening the APC or adversely affecting candidates contesting under the party’s platform.

The position was announced by Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Hope Uzodimma, amid growing political tension over competing strategies for the 2027 elections.

Uzodimma said the governors were committed to strengthening the APC and protecting the interests of its candidates at all levels.

He said the forum had unanimously resolved that its members would not support arrangements capable of creating “confusion, divided loyalty or competing interests” within the party.

The declaration places the APC governors on a different political footing from Wike, whose Rainbow Coalition brings together politicians across party lines while seeking to mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election.

Wike, a former Rivers State governor and serving FCT minister, has consistently maintained that his cross-party political activities are aimed at securing victory for Tinubu in 2027. He has also argued that supporting the President does not prevent him or members of the coalition from backing candidates from other political parties in governorship, National Assembly and other elections.

That position has become a major source of concern within sections of the APC, which fear that a political arrangement could produce a situation in which politicians support Tinubu for president but campaign against APC candidates in other contests.

The governors’ latest declaration therefore draws a clear line between supporting Tinubu’s presidential bid and supporting a broader political structure that could operate independently of the APC.

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Recent reports indicate that some influential APC blocs have become increasingly uncomfortable with Wike’s political activities, particularly where the coalition could affect the party’s candidates in states and constituencies.

The disagreement has also brought Wike into direct confrontation with Uzodimma and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who is chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

Wike had accused the two governors of working against his political activities ahead of the 2027 elections. The FCT minister has nevertheless continued to insist that his objective is to help Tinubu retain the presidency.

The latest development is significant because the 2027 presidential election will be held alongside other elections, meaning political organisations seeking to influence the presidential contest will also have to contend with governorship and legislative races.

APC stakeholders are particularly concerned about the possibility of split-ticket voting, where voters could support Tinubu for president while choosing candidates from other parties for the Senate, House of Representatives or state-level positions.

The governors’ position suggests that they want the APC’s campaign machinery to operate as a unified structure, with support for Tinubu accompanied by support for the party’s candidates across the ballot.

Vanguard reported that the governors’ warning against “parallel political structures” came as tensions over the Rainbow Coalition intensified. The report said some APC blocs feared that the coalition could split votes and affect the party’s electoral prospects.

Punch also reported that APC governors had distanced themselves from any alliance with individuals or groups outside the party ahead of the 2027 elections, reaffirming their commitment to the APC’s political structure.

Wike’s political strategy has attracted particular attention because he remains a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while serving in the Federal Government led by Tinubu and has continued to operate across party lines.

His supporters have presented the Rainbow Coalition as a broad political platform capable of attracting support for Tinubu beyond the APC’s traditional membership base.

The coalition’s critics, however, argue that the strategy could become problematic if members support Tinubu for president while backing non-APC candidates in other contests.

The issue has assumed greater importance as politicians across Nigeria reposition ahead of the 2027 elections, with the APC seeking to consolidate its control of the Federal Government and expand its influence at state and legislative levels.

Wike has also remained active in Rivers State politics, where his influence continues to shape alignments ahead of the next election cycle. His disagreements with political figures in the state and with some APC governors have increasingly become part of the wider debate over the structure of the Tinubu campaign.

The dispute is therefore not simply a disagreement between Wike and individual governors. It reflects a wider struggle over political structures, party loyalty and control of electoral machinery ahead of 2027.

For the APC governors, the priority is to ensure that support for Tinubu is not separated from the interests of APC candidates seeking election to other offices.

For Wike and his allies, the argument is that a broader coalition involving politicians from different parties could strengthen Tinubu’s presidential support base and improve his chances of securing re-election.

The competing approaches could become more pronounced as the 2027 election timetable progresses and political parties finalise candidates, campaign structures and alliances.

The APC governors’ latest resolution could consequently increase pressure on Wike and other supporters of the Rainbow Coalition to clarify how their cross-party activities will operate alongside the interests of APC candidates.

For now, however, the governors have made their position clear: they intend to support Tinubu’s re-election while maintaining loyalty to the APC and its candidates at all levels, rejecting political arrangements they believe could create competing interests within the ruling party.

APC Governors Reject Wike’s Rainbow Coalition, Insist on Party Loyalty

2027: Northern Lecturers Back Tinubu, ASUU Disowns Endorsement

More than 600 senior academics from public universities across Northern Nigeria have endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in the 2027 presidential election, triggering an immediate reaction from the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

The lecturers announced their support at a stakeholders’ engagement convened by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Ibrahim Masari, in Kaduna State.

The meeting, held behind closed doors at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Centre, brought together senior academics and political leaders to assess the performance of the Tinubu administration and discuss the political road to 2027.

The gathering was attended by several prominent political figures, including Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani; Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal; Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni; Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum; and Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya.

Also present were the Minister of Defence, Bello Matawalle; Minister of Housing, Muttaqha Rabe Darma; and former Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari.

Although journalists were initially barred from the meeting, they were later allowed to witness the presentation of the communiqué issued at the end of the deliberations.

Lecturers declare support for Tinubu

Reading the communiqué, the Vice Chancellor of Kaduna State University, Prof Abdullahi Ibrahim Musa, said the academics had critically examined the performance of the Tinubu administration since its assumption of office in May 2023.

They assessed the economy, security, education, infrastructure and social conditions, with particular attention to the challenges confronting Northern Nigeria.

According to the academics, Tinubu inherited an economy suffering from fiscal, monetary and structural challenges, alongside insecurity, infrastructure deficits and gaps in human capital development.

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They also acknowledged that some of the Federal Government’s economic reforms had imposed significant hardship on Nigerians through increased living and transportation costs and inflationary pressures.

However, they argued that the reforms had also improved government revenue and public finance.

The academics listed education financing, agriculture, infrastructure, business support, compressed natural gas, investment and the digital economy among areas where they believed the administration had recorded progress.

After their deliberations, the lecturers declared their support for Tinubu’s re-election.

“We resolved to express our support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in the 2027 presidential election,” they stated.

‘Our support is not a blank cheque’

Despite endorsing the President, the academics warned that their support should not be interpreted as unconditional.

The lecturers urged the Federal Government to listen to Nigerians, respond to legitimate criticism and urgently address the rising cost of food and transportation, unemployment and insecurity.

“Our support should not be interpreted as a blank check,” they said.

They also called for a more comprehensive approach to tackling insecurity, combining military operations with intelligence gathering, effective policing, community engagement and the creation of economic opportunities.

The academics further demanded increased government investment in agriculture, education, healthcare, roads, electricity, irrigation and other critical infrastructure across Northern Nigeria.

ASUU distances itself

But the endorsement quickly ran into opposition from ASUU, which distanced itself from the declaration and reaffirmed its long-standing position as an apolitical union.

ASUU President, Prof Chris Piwuna, said individual members of the union were free to belong to political parties and participate in politics in their personal capacities, but stressed that such activities must not be presented as the position of ASUU.

Piwuna maintained that the union had never endorsed a political party or presidential candidate and would not do so.

He warned members against dragging the union into the controversy, insisting that ASUU remained committed to its apolitical status.

The ASUU president also described it as misleading to automatically associate political activities undertaken by lecturers, vice-chancellors or other academics with the union.

According to him, individual academics can exercise their constitutional rights, but ASUU cannot be presented as having endorsed any candidate.

‘The meeting was for mobilisation’

The controversy has been heightened by the stated objective of the Kaduna meeting.

An invitation letter for the event described it as an interactive session involving senior academics from Northern Nigeria and selected government officials.

The theme was “Consolidating the Renewed Hope Agenda: Three Years of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Achievements and the Road to 2027.”

The letter said the meeting was designed not only to assess the administration’s performance in the economy, security, education, infrastructure and social welfare, but also to secure the endorsement and active support of academics for Tinubu’s re-election bid.

It reportedly stated that the purpose of the gathering was “not open-ended debate but mobilisation.”

Attendance was said to be voluntary, with the organisers encouraging academics who were favourably disposed towards the objective of the gathering to participate.

Reports also indicated that logistics and transportation arrangements were made for participants, although claims about reimbursement and the amount allegedly received by individual participants could not be independently verified.

Northern universities represented

Sources at the meeting said most public universities across the 19 northern states were represented.

Academics from the three northern geopolitical zones were reportedly given opportunities to address the gathering.

Prof Musa spoke on behalf of academics from the North-West, while the Chief Librarian of the Federal University Lafia, Prof Abdulrazaq Baba Abdulrahman, represented the North-Central zone.

A representative of the Federal College of Agriculture, Gwoza, spoke for the North-East.

Professor Mohammed Umar Sanda of the Federal University Dutsinma was also said to have attended.

However, Prof Mainasara Yakubu Kurfi of Bayero University, Kano, whose name was mentioned as one of those present, reportedly denied attending the meeting, saying he was not even aware of the gathering.

Masari urges academics to join politics

Speaking at the event, Masari urged academics to become more involved in determining the country’s political direction rather than remaining on the sidelines and merely criticising government policies.

He argued that the Tinubu administration’s achievements in the education sector should encourage academics to participate actively in the political process.

The engagement is part of wider political consultations as the Tinubu camp intensifies efforts to consolidate support ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The latest development also comes amid a series of endorsements and political consultations involving groups across the country.

2027 battle gathers momentum

With the 2027 presidential election drawing closer, political activities are increasingly taking centre stage, with the Tinubu camp targeting influential groups and constituencies for support.

The Northern lecturers’ endorsement is therefore likely to generate further political debate, particularly because of the high-profile academic figures reportedly involved and ASUU’s swift rejection of any attempt to associate the union with the declaration.

While the academics say their endorsement followed an assessment of Tinubu’s performance, ASUU’s position makes it clear that the declaration cannot be treated as an endorsement by the union itself.

The development has opened yet another front in the emerging 2027 political battle, with Tinubu’s supporters pushing for continuity and opponents expected to scrutinise both the administration’s record and the growing campaign for his second term.

2027: Northern Lecturers Back Tinubu, ASUU Disowns Endorsement

Labour Party Disowns Arabambi Over Peter Obi Records Lawsuits

The Labour Party (LP) has distanced itself from former National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, over lawsuits seeking access to the academic and NYSC records of Peter Obi, saying he is no longer a member of the party and did not institute the cases on its behalf.

The clarification was issued on Monday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Eluma Asogwa, following reports describing Arabambi as an LP chieftain in connection with his legal action against the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Asogwa said the party had initially ignored reports about the lawsuits when they circulated on social media but decided to respond after mainstream media organisations also identified Arabambi as an LP chieftain.

According to the party, Arabambi ceased to be an LP member after he was among 25 members suspended by the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) on March 18, 2026, over alleged infractions bordering on anti-party activities.

The LP said the suspension was subsequently ratified by its National Convention on April 28, 2026. Following that ratification, the affected individuals ceased to be members of the party, the leadership said.

Asogwa added that no organ of the party had met since then to revisit or reverse the decision concerning the affected members.

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The Labour Party consequently urged the public and media organisations to stop presenting Arabambi as an LP chieftain or representative, stressing that he could not have instituted the cases as a member of the party.

The party also warned that if Arabambi had presented himself as a representative or chieftain of the LP, such representation was unauthorised and could amount to impersonation. It said its lawyers were reviewing the matter and could consider further legal action, including a possible petition to law-enforcement authorities.

The Labour Party, however, clarified that its statement should not be interpreted as an endorsement or rejection of the substance of Arabambi’s court cases. The party said its immediate objective was to correct the impression that he was acting on its behalf.

The controversy followed three separate suits filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, in which Arabambi is seeking access to official records relating to certificates and other documents connected with Obi.

The suits were filed against WAEC, NYSC and UNN under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The WAEC case is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2064/2026, while the NYSC case is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2063/2026. Both were filed on September 1, 2026. The suit against UNN, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2144/2026, was filed on September 9.

Arabambi, through his lawyer Anderson Asemota, is asking the court to compel the institutions to release records in their custody relating to Obi’s academic and national service credentials.

The former LP spokesman has maintained that the lawsuits are not asking the court to determine whether the certificates Obi submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are genuine or forged.

Rather, he says he wants access to the institutions’ underlying official records from which the status and particulars of the certificates can be established.

In the case involving UNN, the requested information relates to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy reportedly awarded to Obi in 1984.

Arabambi is also seeking records relating to an NYSC certificate and information concerning the particulars contained in the relevant records.

The legal action against WAEC followed what Arabambi described as the examination body’s refusal to provide information requested under the Freedom of Information Act. He similarly alleged that UNN and NYSC failed to provide the requested records or satisfactory reasons for withholding them.

The lawsuits have generated political reactions because Obi, who was the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, is now the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election.

The NDC has dismissed the lawsuits and defended Obi’s academic background. Its spokesman, Osa Director, said Obi’s academic history was verifiable and questioned the political significance of the legal action.

The NDC also challenged Arabambi to produce evidence supporting any allegation that Obi’s credentials were questionable.

For the Labour Party, however, the immediate issue is Arabambi’s membership status rather than the merits of the cases. The party has made clear that it does not recognise him as an LP member and that the lawsuits should not be regarded as actions instituted by the party.

The courts have yet to determine whether WAEC, UNN and NYSC should release the records sought by Arabambi. The Labour Party’s latest position also does not amount to a judicial finding on the authenticity or otherwise of any of Obi’s credentials.

Labour Party Disowns Arabambi Over Peter Obi Records Lawsuits