Rainbow Coalition will choose Rivers gov candidate for 2027, Wike

The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has declared that the "Rainbow Coalition" in Rivers State, a political alliance of four parties, will jointly select a single governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections. He dismissed any speculation that a ticket has already been secured by an individual.

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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 made these remarks on Saturday at a luncheon for coalition candidates in Port Harcourt, which was broadcast by the Nigerian Television Authority. He clarified that the alliance, which includes the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), and Action Alliance (AA), has not yet decided on a flag bearer. The decision, he emphasized, will be made collectively under the coalition's leadership. "The only decision we have taken is that we are going to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu," Wike stated.

The former Rivers State governor asserted that the Rainbow Coalition is now the dominant political force in the state. He issued a strong call for anyone aspiring to any elective office in Rivers State to join the coalition. "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," he insisted.

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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.

Wike also cautioned against premature victory celebrations among aspirants, warning that such claims create a false impression and undermine the coalition process. He urged all candidates from the four constituent parties to continue their grassroots mobilization efforts until the coalition formally reaches a unified decision. He reassured them that every candidate within the alliance is "okay for Rivers State."

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every candidate in the alliance is “okay for Rivers State.”