Wike Reunites Rivers Political Leaders, Mobilises Support for Tinubu, Rainbow Coalition Candidates

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has rallied political leaders and candidates from different parties in Rivers State behind President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, declaring that the Rainbow Coalition would mobilise support for the president ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Wike, who leads the Rainbow Coalition, spoke on Tuesday during the official unveiling of the alliance’s candidates in Port Harcourt. He urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across the country to support Tinubu regardless of their party affiliations.

The event was attended by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, former governor and Senator Magnus Abe, political leaders and candidates from different parties participating in the coalition.

Wike said the alliance was established to bring political interests in Rivers State together around shared objectives, insisting that differences in party affiliation should not prevent leaders from cooperating to advance the state’s interests and support Tinubu’s second-term ambition.

He called on PDP members in Rivers, Kwara, Benue, Ondo, Ogun and other states to support the president.

Wike maintained that PDP members in Rivers and other states should rally behind Tinubu, extending his appeal to party members across the country.

The FCT minister also criticised opposition figures, particularly former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, questioning the consistency of his political positions and his ability to lead a credible alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He challenged the possibility of Atiku emerging as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), asking whether voters in Rivers State would support him.

Wike accused the former vice-president of changing his position on political agreements, arguing that such inconsistencies should concern voters.

The minister also criticised former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, revisiting promises made during his administration between 2007 and 2015.

Wike cited commitments on malaria prevention and other development-related issues, questioning whether they had been fulfilled.

He further raised allegations concerning the management of funds during Amaechi’s tenure, referring to a judicial panel of inquiry and subsequent court proceedings. The allegations were not independently established at the event.

Wike said the Rainbow Coalition provided a platform for politicians from different parties to work together in support of Tinubu and candidates endorsed by the alliance in Rivers State.

He also urged political stakeholders to avoid actions that could reignite tension in the state, saying the coalition was committed to maintaining peace.

The minister thanked Fubara for attending the event and unveiling the candidates, describing the governor as part of the coalition’s political family.

Wike called on political actors to put aside their differences and cooperate, warning against attempts to create further crises in the state.

He said the coalition rejected winner-takes-all politics, arguing that cooperation among parties could encourage a more inclusive political environment.

Speaking before unveiling the candidates, Fubara described the gathering as an opportunity to reunite political allies and work towards the development of Rivers State.

The governor acknowledged Wike’s role in his political journey and thanked the former governor and other leaders for their support.

Fubara said he was pleased to be among the political leaders he regarded as his family, acknowledging that their support had contributed to his emergence as governor.

He added that despite previous disagreements, the leaders shared a responsibility to work towards the state’s progress.

Fubara expressed gratitude that the political figures had reunited for what he described as a common cause for the benefit of Rivers State.

He pledged to work towards Tinubu’s victory and ensure that political power remained within the bloc represented by the coalition.

The governor also described the opportunity to unveil the candidates as a privilege and expressed confidence in their prospects in the forthcoming elections.

His remarks reinforced the coalition’s message of reconciliation following a period of political tension among key figures in Rivers State.

Also speaking, Senator Magnus Abe urged Amaechi to reconsider his reported decision to serve as Atiku’s running mate, arguing that the arrangement conflicted with the principle of power rotation between northern and southern Nigeria.

Abe said the Rainbow Coalition supported Tinubu, whom he described as the candidate representing the South in the presidential contest.

He recalled that Amaechi had previously argued that Nigeria’s political stability depended on respecting an understanding that presidential power should rotate between the North and South.

Abe questioned why Amaechi would support a northern candidate when, in his view, it was the South’s turn to produce the president.

He called on Amaechi to withdraw from the reported running-mate arrangement with Atiku, insisting that Rivers State would stand by the principle of power rotation.

Abe also urged Atiku to respect the arrangement and declared his support for the Rainbow Coalition.

Speaking on behalf of candidates from six political parties, APC governorship candidate Kingsley Chinda said the coalition aimed to move Rivers State away from divisive party politics towards collective leadership.

Chinda said the alliance was united by its support for Tinubu’s re-election and its commitment to peace and development in Rivers State.

He pledged that candidates elected under the coalition’s arrangement would pursue inclusive governance that considered the interests of different political parties, genders and religious groups.

Chinda said the coalition intended to form a government that placed the interests of Rivers residents first.

He added that cooperation among the participating parties should continue beyond the elections, with each party having a role in governance.

The candidate also commended the state’s political leaders for their efforts to restore peace, expressing hope that the alliance would help prevent election-related crises.

He said the coalition would work towards peaceful elections, a smooth transition and an administration focused on development.