Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has declared that the political parties operating under the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State have not yet selected a governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Saturday during a luncheon organized for coalition candidates in Port Harcourt, Wike dismissed speculations that any aspirant had already secured the coalition’s endorsement. He emphasized that the decision on who will fly the coalition’s flag for the governorship race would be reached collectively by the alliance’s leadership.
The Rainbow Coalition is made up of four political parties: the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Labour Party (LP), and the Action Alliance (AA).
According to Wike, the coalition’s only firm political decision so far is its support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
“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,” Wike stated.
The former Rivers State governor cautioned aspirants against engaging in premature celebrations or projecting themselves as the coalition’s preferred candidate. He noted that such claims create a misleading narrative and could complicate political relationships, especially considering his membership of the PDP.
Wike urged all candidates emerging from the four political parties to remain focused on grassroots mobilization and political engagement until the coalition officially convenes to make a collective decision. He maintained that every candidate within the alliance possesses the capacity to govern Rivers State effectively.
The minister also addressed what he described as the persistent exploitation of Rivers State’s political challenges by external interests. He accused some activists, commentators, and media organizations of benefiting from the state’s political instability and argued that the coalition was formed to foster unity and put an end to such divisions.
“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,” he said.
In addition, Wike criticized smaller political parties, particularly the African Democratic Congress (ADC), arguing that media attention and political defections do not automatically translate into electoral strength. He maintained that only the PDP, APC, and Labour Party have consistently demonstrated the organizational structure and capacity required to conduct successful statewide and national election campaigns across Nigeria.
His remarks come amid growing political realignments and preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Rivers State expected to remain one of the country’s key political battlegrounds.
