The Rainbow Coalition founded by FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election by working with other parties while sharing other elective positions is facing further challenges as more have disowned the arrangement
Our correspondents report that after its initial success in Rivers State, cracks have emerged in the state as one of the parties in the coalition, Labour Party, has disagreed with the process the coalition was formed
Our correspondent reports that the coalition comprises APC, PDP, Labour Party and Action Alliance in Rivers
Chieftains of the LP in Rivers State say the people the coalition is dealing with are not Labour Party memebers but belong to the Labour Union insisting the authentic LP in Rivers is not represented in the coalition
Former South-South Zonal Vice Chairman of LP, Mr Favour Reuben, said he is not part of the coalition, alleging that the LP governorship candidate recognized by the coalition is a PDP member
Political analyst and Ogoni rights activist, Dr Celestine Akpobari, criticized the coalition as non-inclusive, saying it favours only Ikwerre ethnic nationality
“I have never seen a rainbow with one colour APC chairman is Ikwerre, PDP chairman is Ikwerre, governorship candidates of APC, PDP and Labour are all Ikwerre. Where is the rainbow?” he queried.
He argued that if power is taken from Governor Fubara who is from Rivers South-East, it should go to Ogoni people who have never produced governor, deputy governor, Speaker or Chief Judge
“A rainbow coalition cannot have one colour,” he said, describing the situation as dictatorship
A Rivers APC chieftain and coalition member, who spoke on conditions of anonymity said the alliance has already taken control of the state
“All the local government chairmen are members of this coalition, councillors in all the wards are members, Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his supporters have returned to the coalition Who are the people remaining in other parties that bragged about taking over Rivers in 2027?
Former President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide and 2023 Labour Party governorship candidate in Bayelsa, Engr Udengs Eradiri, however, described Wike’s Rainbow Coalition as a major asset capable of delivering bulk votes for Tinubu in 2027.
Eradiri said the coalition cuts across political interests and should be seen as an added advantage to Tinubu’s re-election, not a threat to APC governors
“Wike and his Rainbow Coalition should be seen as an added advantage to Tinubu’s re-election because it was formed solely to work for Mr President and not to advance the interest of any governor,” he said
Leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the South-East region backed the resolution of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), to support all its party candidates in the 2027 general elections
The position was outlined in a joint statement signed by Dr Ijeomah Arodiogbu, APC National Vice Chairman (South-East), alongside the party chairmen of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states.
According to the leadership, total alignment behind APC flagbearers across all levels is essential to securing a comprehensive victory in 2027
The zonal leadership strongly rejected what it termed a “rainbow (chameleon) coalition” in the South-East, warning that the party structure in the zone would actively resist any external attempt to undermine its grassroots base
The South-East executives noted that Wike’s criticisms targeted high-performing governors who not only delivered significant development in their respective states but also secured over 25 percent of the presidential vote during the 2023 elections