Ahead of the 2027 general elections, political realignments are beginning to emerge within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, with some aggrieved party members reportedly aligning with the Rainbow Coalition associated with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The development comes amid growing disagreements between Wike’s coalition and some APC governors over the political direction of the alliance ahead of the elections.
The APC Governors Forum, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, recently said APC governors would not support political arrangements capable of undermining the party or its candidates at the 2027 elections. Wike, however, has maintained that the Rainbow Coalition is a cross-party platform established primarily to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.
According to reports, some APC members who were dissatisfied with the outcome of the party’s recent primaries have been holding discussions with political actors associated with the coalition.
The affected politicians reportedly include party leaders, serving and former National Assembly members who lost tickets during the primaries, as well as members who believe they were marginalised or dissatisfied with the performance of their respective governors.
Rainbow Coalition gains attention in Cross River.
In Cross River State, the development is attracting particular attention following the political movements of some former APC lawmakers.
Bassey Akiba, who represented Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency, and Alex Egbona, former member representing Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency, were among politicians associated with the state’s recent political realignments. Public records show Akiba currently holds the seat on the Labour Party platform, while Egbona is listed as an APC representative for Abi/Yakurr.
Reports indicate that politicians who lost out during the APC primaries and subsequently explored alternative platforms are also being courted by political groups seeking to expand their influence ahead of 2027.
A senior APC figure in Cross River, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed that some National Assembly members and their supporters had begun working with the Rainbow Coalition against Governor Bassey Otu.
The source alleged that about seven National Assembly members were involved in the emerging political arrangement, although the claim could not be independently verified.
According to the source, some of the aggrieved politicians remain supportive of President Tinubu but are dissatisfied with the manner in which they were treated during the APC primaries and by the state party structure.
The source said the affected members believed they had contributed significantly to the development of the APC in Cross River, particularly following former Governor Ben Ayade’s defection to the party.
Political realignment ahead of 2027
The reported development in Cross River is part of a broader political movement involving aggrieved APC members in several states. Recent reports have identified Cross River, Rivers, Kwara and Gombe among states where the Rainbow Coalition and associated political realignments are attracting attention.
A national APC figure quoted in recent reporting described the coalition as an alternative platform for party members dissatisfied with the outcome of the primaries, while another party official said some aggrieved members could support Tinubu at the presidential level while backing other candidates at the state level.
Wike has, however, rejected the suggestion that the coalition was created to help politicians defeat APC governors. In a statement issued through his media aide, Lere Olayinka, Wike said the coalition was established to mobilise support for Tinubu and insisted that it was separate from the APC.
He also made clear that the PDP could field candidates for governorship and legislative elections in 2027.
Otu camp dismisses threat
Meanwhile, an aide to Governor Bassey Otu dismissed suggestions that the Rainbow Coalition could significantly disrupt the APC’s structure in Cross River. The aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, acknowledged that some party members were unhappy following the primaries but said the governor’s administration was working to reconcile aggrieved members.
“It is normal in election for some to win and some to lose out. What is important is getting everyone back on board again,” the aide said.
He described Otu as a grassroots politician who had previously operated in opposition politics and therefore understood how to manage political challenges.
The aide also expressed confidence that APC National Assembly members in the state would work together with the governor ahead of the 2027 election. “I want to believe that all you are hearing is from the rumour mills and an attempt to glorify Rainbow Coalition in the state. Very soon you will see all of us in one campaign train,” he said.
The unfolding developments suggest that the management of post-primary grievances could become an important factor in Cross River’s political landscape ahead of 2027, as both the APC leadership and emerging opposition alliances seek to consolidate their structures across the state