By Dennis Agbo
Former South-East spokesman to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chairman of the Forum of Former Members of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Denge Josef Onoh, has backed the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) in its reported opposition to an alliance with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike’s “Rainbow Coalition.”
Onoh, in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, described the coalition as a potential threat to the survival and cohesion of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said he was in “total solidarity” with the PGF, led by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, for what he described as its decision to reject the coalition.
According to Onoh, the position of the governors was a “courageous act of political preservation,” adding that he had previously warned against the activities of the coalition.
He alleged that the “Rainbow Coalition” was not a benevolent political arrangement but a “calculated Greek gift” presented under the guise of supporting President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
Onoh claimed that the coalition’s internal structure was designed to weaken the APC by creating parallel political structures and supporting members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to contest against recognised APC candidates.
He warned that tolerating such activities could trigger internal rebellion, divided loyalties and further weaken the ruling party.
“The APC is a structured institution with established constitutional guidelines. A non-member cannot operate a parallel political machine that dictates terms to the ruling party or undermines its official candidates,” he said.
Onoh further alleged that the coalition’s ambition extended beyond the 2027 general elections, claiming that it was being positioned to build political influence across several states.
He said the alleged long-term objective was to create a strong bargaining platform for the 2031 vice-presidential ticket, when, according to him, the presidency would return to the North and the vice presidency to the South.
He urged APC governors and leaders to protect the party’s institutional structure, arguing that allowing opposition-backed political structures to field candidates would create confusion, destabilise local chapters and weaken the party’s campaign machinery.
Onoh also said the protection of what he described as the South’s 2031 political interest was “non-negotiable,” warning against allowing an individual to dominate the process through personal political ambitions.
“We from the South will not allow our political future to be mortgaged by personal, predatory ambitions disguised as loyalty to the President,” he said.
Onoh argued that genuine support for Tinubu should be demonstrated by strengthening the APC rather than establishing parallel factions.
He commended the Progressive Governors for what he described as drawing “a line in the sand,” and urged the APC to remain a disciplined political institution that rewards loyal party members.
He warned against “outsourcing” the party’s future to political actors he described as opportunists operating under the banner of the “Rainbow Coalition.”
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