The Nyesom Wike-led Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State has confirmed the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogundu Kingsley Chinda, as its candidate, adding that it also shared other National Assembly and State House of Assembly positions between candidates of the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
The APC is to take the Rivers South-East senatorial district seat, which has Senator Olaka Johnson Nwogu as candidate, along with 14 other national and state assembly candidates for the general election
The Rainbow Coalition—which comprises several political parties in the state, including the PDP, APC, Labour Party (LP), and a faction of the Action Alliance (AA)—also adopted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC as its sole presidential candidate for the 2027 general election
Daily Trust reports that no candidate from the AA or Labour Party made the list of preferred candidates unveiled by the coalition, despite both parties being members of the alliance
Speaking at the official unveiling of the coalition’s candidates held at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Elekahia, Port Harcourt, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, rallied political leaders and candidates across various parties in Rivers State behind President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid
Wike said the event, which brought together Rivers State Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, political leaders, and candidates under the coalition’s platform, was designed to unite political interests in Rivers State around a common objective
He insisted that party differences should not prevent leaders from working together to advance the state’s interests and support Tinubu’s second-term ambition
He urged PDP members in Rivers, Kwara, Benue, Ondo, Ogun, and other states to rally behind the President
Wike maintained that the Rainbow Coalition offered a platform for politicians from different parties to work together in support of Tinubu and candidates endorsed by the alliance in Rivers State Urging political stakeholders to avoid actions capable of reigniting tension, he added that the coalition remains committed to maintaining peace.
The minister also expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for personally attending the event and unveiling the candidates, describing the governor as a member of the coalition’s political family
Speaking before unveiling the candidates, Governor Fubara described the gathering as an opportunity to reunite political allies and work toward the development of Rivers State
Fubara acknowledged Wike’s role in his political journey, expressing appreciation for the support he received from the former governor and other leaders He pledged to work toward victory for Tinubu and to ensure that political power remains within the bloc represented by the coalition.
Speaking on behalf of candidates across the participating political parties, APC governorship candidate Kingsley Chinda said the coalition is seeking to move Rivers State away from divisive party politics toward a model of collective leadership