The Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) has said it will not endorse any alliance or political arrangements that could undermine President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid or the party’s candidates in the 2027 elections.

The forum chairman, Imo governor, Hope Uzodimma, speaking in Abuja after the forum’s meeting, said his colleagues would exclusively support Tinubu and APC candidates at all levels in the 2027 elections.

“The forum unanimously resolved that its members will not participate in, support, or endorse any alliance or political arrangement capable of undermining the re-election of Mr president, weakening the APC or adversely affecting any candidate of the party at all levels,” Uzodimma, who was flanked by his colleagues, said.

“In other words, the forum has no intention to support any candidate at any level that is not an APC candidate.”

He said the governors’ campaign efforts would focus on all APC candidates contesting under the party’s platform.

“Because our candidates are standing in the election as being sponsored by our party, the governor’s campaign commitment is exclusively to all APC candidates,” Uzodimma said.

He said the forum would not entertain any arrangement that could “create confusion, divided loyalty or competing interests” within the party.

Uzodimma also said the APC would adopt an integrated, locally responsive campaign structure ahead of the 2027 elections, with all levels of the party’s campaign architecture aligned with Tinubu’s expectations and the party’s strategic objectives.

Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is leading the rainbow coalition, a cross-party alliance supporting Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

Wike said the coalition is a shift from party politics to a collective political movement focused on advancing the state’s interests.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released a list of 18 presidential candidates and their running mates for the January 2027 presidential election.

The final list, titled “Presidential and National Assembly Elections for Jan, 2027 – Presidential Final List of Candidates”, was signed by Rose Oriaran-Anthony, INEC secretary.

The list includes major contenders such as Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC).

Atiku is listed with Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate, while Tinubu is paired with Vice-President Kashim Shettima.

Obi, the NDC presidential candidate, is listed with Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano State, as his running mate.

Sowore is paired with Haruna Magashi.

Other presidential candidates on the list are Rufai Omo-Aje of the Action Alliance (AA); Abbas-Bin Aliyu of the Action Democratic Party (ADP); Yusuf Kabiru of the Allied Peoples Party (APP); Seyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM); and Adenuga Sunday of the Boot Party (BP).

Also listed are Adebisi Olusoji of the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA); Sunday Okereke of the Labour Party (LP); Ada Okwori of the National Democratic Party (NDP); and Nkem Okereke of the National Rescue Movement (NRM).

Donald Duke is listed as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), while Adewole Adebayo is the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The remaining candidates are Peter Agada of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and Daniel Nwanyanwu of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

The document also contains the ages, gender, and academic qualifications of the presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

The presidential and national assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and state houses of assembly elections would be held on February 6, 2027.

The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has urged former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar to step down from the 2027 presidential race. 

Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano state, spoke at his residence in Abuja during a meeting with members of the Fulani Farmers Association.

According to Thecable, Kwankwaso, who is running mate to Peter Obi, NDC presidential candidate, urged Atiku to reconsider his presidential ambition, citing his age and health.

He added that he and Obi would take care of Atiku if they won the presidency.

“Go to the Wazirin of Adamawa’s house and tell him in Fulani that he needs to focus on his traditional title of Wazirin, given his age and health,” he said in Hausa.

“If Allah grants us success, we will take good care of him, especially since you all come from Adamawa. An apology should be offered to him.”

Abubakar has run for the number one office six times, but has been on the ballot as a presidential candidate on three occasions — 2007, 2019, and 2023.

In April, the former vice-president, who will turn 81 next year, said the 2027 general election would be his last attempt at the presidency.

Atiku was conferred the title of Wazirin Adamawa in June 2017 by Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa, the 12th traditional ruler of the Adamawa emirate, following the death of Muhammad Abba, the previous titleholder.

Atiku had held the title of Turaki of Adamawa since 1982, which was eventually passed to his son, Aliyu.

The Wazirin Adamawa is a high-ranking traditional title in the Adamawa Emirate, with the holder serving as the emir’s prime minister, most senior councillor, kingmaker and close adviser.

In 2025, Adamawa state government issued a directive requiring all kingmakers and traditional council members to be indigenes of the emirates or chiefdoms they represent.

The policy was said to have stripped Atiku of the Wazirin title, as he hails from Jada in the Ganye emirate.