Three opposition political parties — the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Accord — have expressed support for the participation of their prominent members in President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.
The parties backed the roles assigned to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo; and Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, in the expanded All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council.
The APC named the three politicians in its revised campaign council on Tuesday, despite their affiliations with opposition parties.
The development highlights growing cross-party alliances ahead of the 2027 general election, with the ruling party seeking support from influential politicians beyond its membership.
APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, confirmed that the party had appealed to Wike, Soludo, Adeleke and other opposition figures to support Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Yilwatda made the disclosure on Tuesday while receiving a delegation from the Savannah Centres for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, led by former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
Wike is a prominent PDP chieftain, Soludo belongs to APGA, while Adeleke is a member of the Accord Party.
PDP Explains Wike’s Inclusion in Tinubu’s Campaign Council
The PDP has said Wike’s participation in Tinubu’s re-election campaign was not unexpected, explaining that the party had previously permitted the FCT minister to work with the President.
Speaking with The PUNCH, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Jungudo Mohammed, said Wike had received the party’s approval to support the Tinubu administration from the beginning of its tenure.
Mohammed explained that the former PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagum, had given Wike the go-ahead to work with the President.
According to him, Wike’s inclusion in the Presidential Campaign Council does not make him a member of the APC National Working Committee.
He said the minister was working for Tinubu rather than the APC as a political party, adding that the PDP had already endorsed his decision to support the administration.
Mohammed also argued that Wike’s political influence made him an attractive figure for campaign organisations across party lines.
APGA Endorses Soludo’s Appointment, Reaffirms Support for Tinubu
APGA has welcomed Soludo’s appointment as the Anambra State coordinator of Tinubu’s 2027 presidential campaign, describing the decision as well deserved.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Ejimofor Opara, the party congratulated Soludo and reaffirmed its support for the President’s re-election bid.
APGA attributed the appointment to Soludo’s leadership, commitment to progressive ideals and advocacy for strategic cooperation between the Anambra State Government and the Federal Government.
The party also said its position was consistent with a resolution reached at its National Executive Committee meeting and during Tinubu’s working visit to Anambra State on May 8, 2025.
According to APGA, it formally adopted Tinubu as its consensus presidential candidate for the 2027 general election and would not field a presidential candidate in the election.
The party maintained that its support for Tinubu would not prevent it from pursuing electoral victories for its candidates contesting state and federal legislative seats.
It reiterated its political position as Tinubu for President in Anambra, while APGA candidates would contest the Senate, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly elections.
APGA also expressed confidence that Soludo would use his political influence, organisational capacity and standing across the South-East to mobilise support for Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The party described its relationship with the ruling party as an ideological partnership that had already facilitated federal collaboration on infrastructure and economic development initiatives in Anambra State.
Accord Chieftain Welcomes Adeleke’s Campaign Role
A chieftain of the Accord Party, Bamidele Salam, has also welcomed Adeleke’s appointment to lead Tinubu’s re-election campaign in Osun State.
Salam, who represents Ede South, Ede North, Ejigbo and Egbedore Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, described the development as a welcome one.
His reaction signals support for Adeleke’s involvement in Tinubu’s campaign despite the Osun governor’s membership of the Accord Party rather than the APC.
Adeleke’s role comes against the backdrop of the APC’s efforts to secure backing from influential political figures in states where the ruling party has faced electoral challenges.
APC Reveals How It Secured Support From Opposition Leaders
Yilwatda said the APC had deliberately reached out to political stakeholders, including opposition leaders, as part of efforts to strengthen support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
He explained that the ruling party approached Adeleke despite having contested against him in Osun State, where the APC lost to the incumbent governor.
According to Yilwatda, the party appealed to Adeleke to support Tinubu’s re-election, and the governor agreed.
He said the APC adopted a similar approach in Anambra State, where Soludo defeated its candidate, adding that the party subsequently appealed to the governor to support Tinubu.
Yilwatda also confirmed that the APC reached out to Wike to secure support for the President in Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory.
The APC chairman said the outreach was driven by what the party considered the national interest rather than partisan considerations alone.
He added that the ruling party would continue engaging stakeholders across political divides instead of relying solely on its own members and its record in government.
The strategy underscores the importance the APC is placing on alliances with influential politicians as the 2027 election approaches.
Wike Insists Rainbow Coalition Will Remain Ahead of 2027
Meanwhile, Wike has maintained that the Rainbow Coalition will remain part of Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general election.
Speaking during his monthly media chat in Abuja on Tuesday, the FCT minister dismissed concerns that the coalition could create divisions among APC governors or undermine the ruling party.
Wike has continued to promote the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State and the FCT as a platform for mobilising support for Tinubu’s re-election.
The coalition brings together APC members and supporters of the President who belong to other political parties but share the objective of securing another presidential term for Tinubu.
Wike has argued that supporting Tinubu does not require him or his allies to support APC candidates in every other election.
His position has contributed to tensions with some APC governors, particularly over the coalition’s potential influence in governorship and senatorial contests.
The minister recently accused Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma of being behind some of the political challenges he faces, linking the dispute to the coalition’s growing influence.
Uzodimma, who chairs the APC Progressive Governors’ Forum, has maintained that APC governors would campaign for the party’s candidates at all levels and would not support arrangements capable of weakening the party or Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Wike, however, insisted that the Rainbow Coalition was not a new political arrangement and should not be viewed as a threat to the ruling party.
He maintained that the coalition was established to unite supporters of Tinubu across party lines and mobilise them towards a common political objective.
The minister cited the FCT as an example, saying coalition members could support Tinubu for president while backing APC candidates in National Assembly elections.
According to Wike, the coalition’s primary objective is to ensure Tinubu’s electoral success, while its members retain the freedom to make choices in other contests.
He said the arrangement had become more visible because of the approaching election period, adding that it would continue despite opposition to its activities.
Cross-Party Alliances Shape Tinubu’s 2027 Re-Election Bid
The backing expressed by the PDP, APGA and Accord figures highlights the complex political relationships emerging ahead of the 2027 general election.
While the APC is seeking to consolidate its position nationally, Tinubu’s campaign is also attracting support from politicians who remain affiliated with opposition parties.
APGA’s formal endorsement of Tinubu, the PDP’s explanation of Wike’s involvement and Salam’s reaction to Adeleke’s appointment illustrate the different ways political parties and their members are approaching the coming election.
However, the cross-party arrangement also raises questions about the relationship between support for Tinubu’s presidential bid and loyalty to the APC in other electoral contests.
With Wike insisting that the Rainbow Coalition will remain active, and the APC leadership continuing its outreach to opposition stakeholders, political alliances are likely to remain a significant feature of the race towards the 2027 presidential election.