Rivers 2027: Rainbow Coalition will decide who succeeds Fubara — Wike

…Denies endorsing any governorship candidate

By Daniel Abia, Port Harcourt

PORT HARCOURT — Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that he has endorsed any governorship candidate for the 2027 Rivers State election, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Hon. Ogundu Kingsley Chinda.

Wike also said the emerging “Rainbow Coalition” — a political structure comprising members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), APC, Labour Party (LP) and Action Alliance (AA) — will collectively determine who becomes the next governor of Rivers State.

He spoke on Saturday in Port Harcourt during a luncheon organised for candidates under the coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The former Rivers State governor said no final decision had been taken on the governorship ticket, stressing that aspirants would still have the opportunity to contest and prove their popularity.

“In 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 said.

He said it would be wrong for anyone to assume that a candidate had already been endorsed, adding that such a process would be decided by the leadership of the coalition.

Wike, who has repeatedly said he would play a major role in determining his successor, said the coalition was open to all political actors willing to align with its platform.

“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… You must come. If you don’t come, you cannot get it,” he said.

The minister noted that the coalition was formed to provide a unified platform across party lines, insisting that internal consultations would determine its eventual flag bearer.

His comments come amid rising political tension in the state and speculation over the future of some frontline governorship aspirants, including Hon. Kingsley Chinda.

The situation has been further complicated by ongoing legal disputes involving Chinda’s alleged defection and resignation from his position as Minority Leader in the House of Representatives.

In addition, a recent Court of Appeal judgment in Port Harcourt sacked Chief Tony Okocha, an ally of Wike, as APC chairman in Rivers State, declaring decisions taken under his leadership invalid.

Political observers say the ruling could further reshape the APC’s internal structure ahead of the 2027 elections in the state.

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