PORT HARCOURT — Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has dismissed claims that the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State has adopted a candidate for the 2027 governorship election, insisting that the coalition has not taken any decision on who should emerge as its preferred flag bearer.
Speaking at a luncheon organised for candidates of the coalition in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Wike said the only consensus reached by members of the multi-party alliance is support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stressing that the governorship ticket remains open to aspirants from all participating political parties.
The Rainbow Coalition comprises members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP) and Action Alliance (AA).
“The Rainbow Coalition has not chosen who will be governor of Rivers State,” Wike said. “The only person we have chosen is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We have candidates from different political parties, but no decision has been taken on the governorship position.”
The former Rivers State governor cautioned against attempts by individuals or groups to create the impression that the coalition had already settled for a particular candidate or political party.
According to him, such declarations are premature and could undermine the spirit of inclusiveness on which the alliance was founded.
“When I hear people saying the coalition has picked APC or has endorsed a particular candidate, it becomes an indictment on me because there are candidates from my party and other parties. We have not sat down to make that decision,” he said.
“Nobody should come here and say, ‘Thank you for choosing APC.’ We have not decided. The coalition will decide collectively when the time comes.”
Wike explained that the coalition was deliberately designed as a broad political platform bringing together stakeholders across party lines in pursuit of peace, stability and development in Rivers State.
He said all candidates who have emerged from the participating parties remain eligible for consideration and urged members of the coalition to continue grassroots mobilisation pending a formal decision by its leadership.
“The coalition belongs to everybody. APC is there, PDP is there, Labour Party is there and AA is there. At the appropriate time, the leadership will meet and take a position that will be binding on all members,” he stated.
The minister also used the occasion to defend the formation of the coalition, describing it as a response to years of political division and instability in the state.
He criticised what he described as the tendency of some commentators, activists and sections of the media to profit from political crises in Rivers State, recalling a period when the state was frequently portrayed through narratives of violence and conflict.
“There was a time people benefitted from stories of crisis in Rivers State. Headlines portraying the state negatively became commonplace. But we decided that Rivers people must come together irrespective of political affiliation,” he said.
“What is important is the development of our state and the unity of our people.”
Wike further argued that electoral success depends on strong political structures rather than rhetoric or defections, maintaining that only parties with established grassroots networks have consistently demonstrated the capacity to win elections across the country.
He urged members of the Rainbow Coalition to remain united and focused on building a stable political platform capable of advancing the interests of Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections.
The luncheon attracted political leaders, party stakeholders and candidates from the various parties participating in the coalition.
