Ondo APC elders refuse rainbow coalition for Tinubu 2027 bid

Ondo APC elders reject cross‑party alliance

In a meeting held in Akure on 5 November 2026, the elders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State announced that they would not join the Rainbow Coalition – a cross‑party platform set up by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike to support President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re‑election.

The decision was made by Dr Demola Ijabiyi, chairman of the elders’ group operating under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Mandate Elders Forum. According to Ijabiyi, the All Progressives Congress has a solid base in Ondo State and can secure over one million votes for Tinubu without compromising its own nominees or ceding any electoral districts.

The APC controls government at both the state and local levels in Ondo, and the elders argued that a coalition would be unnecessary and could undermine the party’s dominance.

Background

Minister Nyesom Wike initiated the Rainbow Coalition to build a multi-party alliance in specific regions that backs Tinubu’s bid for a second term while permitting allied groups to run for local council and parliamentary seats. The coalition was intended to broaden support for the president across Nigeria.

In Ondo, the APC has long been the dominant party, holding the state government and most local government seats. The elders’ forum, which operates under the umbrella of the President Tinubu Mandate Elders Forum, has historically been a key body for coordinating the party’s strategy and mobilisation.

Why it matters

The elders’ rejection of the coalition means that the APC will run its own slate of candidates for the 2027 elections in Ondo, without sharing seats or compromising on its own local government and legislative ambitions. The decision underscores the party’s confidence in its electoral base and its belief that it can secure the necessary votes for Tinubu without external support.

The move also signals a potential shift in how the APC will approach alliances in other states. While the party has welcomed support from other parties for Tinubu’s re‑election, it has made it clear that such support should not come at the expense of APC candidates.

What happens next

Senior members of the APC called on their nominees for the National and State Assemblies to step up voter outreach activities in the run-up to the polls. They called on women and youth members to conduct door‑to‑door campaigns to help secure the targeted vote count.

No further steps or dates have been announced regarding the coalition or the election campaign beyond the mobilisation push.