Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed speculations surrounding the emergence of a preferred governorship candidate in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections, insisting that the decision will be made collectively by members of the Rainbow Coalition.
Speaking at a luncheon held for coalition candidates in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Wike said the alliance, which brings together the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), and Action Alliance (AA), has not endorsed any individual for the governorship race.
According to him, while candidates have emerged under the various parties that make up the coalition, discussions on a consensus governorship candidate are yet to be concluded.
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He said: “The Rainbow Coalition, we have not chosen who will be the governor of Rivers State. But we have party candidates who have emerged under the Rainbow Coalition. The only decision we have taken is that we are going to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
The former Rivers State governor described the coalition as the dominant political platform in the state and urged politicians with electoral ambitions to align with it.
“If you want to be important in the politics of Rivers State, come and join the Rainbow Coalition. If you want to be governor, come here.
“If you want to be senator, come here. If you want House of Reps, come here. If you want Assembly, come here. If you want local government, come here. You must come. If you don’t come, you cannot get it.
“You must come here. Everybody here, whether you are APC, whether you are PDP, whether you are in Labour, whether you are AA, you are all okay for the state.”
Wike cautioned aspirants against celebrating victory prematurely, noting that such actions could create misconceptions about the coalition’s internal process and eventual decision on a unified candidate.
He urged all candidates within the alliance to remain focused on grassroots mobilisation while awaiting the coalition’s final position.
The minister also reflected on the political situation in Rivers State, arguing that the coalition was formed to foster unity and prioritise development over partisan divisions.
According to him, external interests have often benefited from political tensions in the state, making it necessary for stakeholders across party lines to work together.
“God said no, we must come together as a people, irrespective of our political leanings. What is important is that we must talk about the development of our state. We must talk about the unity of our state,”Wike said.
The FCT minister further downplayed the strength of smaller political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), maintaining that electoral success requires more than public attention and political defections.
He argued that only parties with established nationwide structures, such as the PDP, APC and Labour Party, possess the capacity to effectively contest and manage elections across the country.
The Rainbow Coalition has emerged as a major political force in Rivers State, bringing together members of different parties under a common platform as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.
