Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike has unveiled 49 candidates adopted by the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State for the 2027 general elections, as the alliance seeks to unite politicians across party lines behind President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The candidates were presented on Tuesday, October 27, at an event in Port Harcourt attended by political stakeholders from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party, Action Alliance, All Progressives Grand Alliance and Allied People’s Movement, among others.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, 34 of the 49 candidates are contesting under the APC, while 15 are running under the PDP. The coalition has adopted candidates for governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly positions.
Wike said the alliance was designed to bring political interests together and reduce divisions in Rivers State, while rallying support for Tinubu’s second term. He urged PDP members nationwide to look beyond party affiliations and support the president, arguing that political differences should not prevent cooperation on state and national development.
The coalition adopted Kingsley Ogundu Chinda as its governorship candidate and Major Jack as his running mate, both under the APC.
Its senatorial choices include Felix Amaechi Obua for Rivers West and Allwell Iheacho for Rivers East, both under the APC, and Olaka Johnson Nwogu for Rivers South-East under the PDP.
For the 13 House of Representatives seats, the coalition will support 10 APC candidates and three PDP candidates. For the 32 seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly, it adopted 21 APC candidates and 11 PDP candidates.
The arrangement allows politicians from different parties to retain their respective party affiliations while supporting candidates selected by the coalition for various constituencies.
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara attended the event and pledged to work towards the coalition’s success, describing the gathering as an opportunity to reunite political allies.
Fubara acknowledged Wike’s role in his political development and said he was grateful for the support that helped him become governor. He also urged members to set aside past disagreements and work together for the state’s development.
Wike cautioned political stakeholders against actions that could reignite tensions in Rivers State. The coalition has presented reconciliation and unity as central to its political strategy ahead of the elections.
The Rainbow Coalition has placed support for Tinubu’s second term at the centre of its campaign. Wike said the alliance would bring together politicians across party lines around a shared objective, while allowing candidates to contest other positions under different parties.
Magnus Abe, chairman of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission board, also expressed support for the president’s re-election and urged political leaders to respect the principle of power rotation.
The coalition’s unveiling marks an effort to organise political support in Rivers ahead of the 2027 polls. Its ability to maintain cooperation among candidates and stakeholders from different parties will be tested as campaigning intensifies.
The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027, according to the election timetable cited by Premium Times.
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