Rainbow coalition threatened as PGF backs only candidate sponsored by the party

By Jude Opara

The idea of some members of the opposition parties pledging their support for the reelection of President Bola Tinubu may not necessarily guarantee their own victory, this is because the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) have vowed to only work for candidates sponsored by the ruling APC.

The APC has also firmly resolved to distance itself from any political alliance that could undermine the President’s interests or weaken the party, with the governors given the charge to officially take over President Bola Tinubu’s reelection campaign within their various states.

Chairman of the PGF and governor of Imo state, Sen. Hope Uzodimma disclosed this strategic decision on Monday after a high-level meeting at the Imo State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.

Uzodimma who read from the official communique, made the party’s position on political coalitions unequivocal, insisting that the APC will only back its own candidates.

“The forum unanimously resolved that its members will not participate in, support, or endorse any alliance or political arrangement capable of undermining the reelection of Mr. President, weakening the APC, or adversely affecting any candidate of the party at all levels,” Uzodimma stated.

Speaking further, the PGF boss said: “In other words, the Forum has no intention to support any candidate at any level that is not an APC candidate, because the election and our candidates are standing election as being sponsored by our party.”

The PGF emphasized that its campaign loyalty remains undivided, adding that “no arrangements that create confusion, divided loyalty, or competing interests within the party will be entertained.”

Meanwhile, the position of the governors to fully take charge of the campaigns in their states appears to contradict the party leadership who only recently released a long list of members of the APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).

“All levels of the party’s campaign architecture will be aligned to the reelection of Mr. President and the strategic objectives of the APC, while maintaining national coherence,” Uzodimma stated.

He added that the campaign will adapt dynamically to the peculiar political, social, and cultural realities of every state and region.

According to the PGF, the upcoming campaign will be centered on several core issue including;, grassroots mobilization getting to every community, actively engaging all demographic groups and strata of Nigerian society through an inclusive, people-centered method.

He added that the PGF are pushing for performance driven campaign to demonstrate the administration’s progress using what it calls “verifiable facts and measurable outcomes from President Tinubu’s current reforms”.

Uzodimma said, “The campaign promises to present a credible account of the administration’s achievements alongside a compelling blueprint for Nigeria’s future”.

On the speculation that the PGF is embroiled in internal crisis, the forum affirmed that the progressive governors remain completely united, focused, and resolute. They maintained that there is zero disagreement within their ranks regarding their collective responsibility to deliver victory for President Tinubu and all APC candidates across the country.

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