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Rivers 2027: Wike speaks on ‘Rainbow Coalition’ Governorship ticket, insists no candidate endorsed yet

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…says Ticket still open to APC, PDP, LP, AA

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed speculations surrounding the automatic endorsement of any governorship candidate under the “Rainbow Coalition” in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking on Saturday at a high-profile luncheon organized for candidates of the coalition in Port Harcourt, Wike clarified that while the political bloc has firmly resolved to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, it has not settled on any individual for the state’s governorship.

Addressing the cross-party gathering, Wike dismissed what he called premature victory celebrations by any of the candidates, noting that such claims create a false impression and undermine his own political standing, especially given his affiliation with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

”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 declared.

Wike reminded the stakeholders that the alliance is an inclusive, multi-party structure comprising the All Progressives Congress (APC), PDP, Labour Party (LP), and Action Alliance (AA).

He emphasized that final strategic decisions would be made collectively under the leadership of the coalition’s chairman.

The Minister noted that all candidates from the participating parties are “okay for Rivers State” and have been praying for success.

All political blocks, including AA, LP, and APC, were urged to continue their grassroots preparations until the coalition formally meets to take a unified position.

The FCT Minister launched a scathing critique against external commentators, human rights activists, and media organizations that he accused of historically exploiting the state’s political volatility for financial gain.

Wike stated that the Rainbow Coalition was engineered to permanently alter this negative perception.

”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 maintained.

Taking a swipe at newer or less established political parties—specifically mentioning the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Wike argued that noise-making and political defections should not be mistaken for structural electoral capacity.

He stated that only the PDP, APC, and Labour Party have demonstrated true operational experience in running national and statewide elections across Nigeria.