The unveiling of the Rainbow Coalition's candidates for the 2027 elections took place at a ceremony in Port Harcourt, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) sharing the available State House of Assembly seats. The APC reportedly secured the majority of the slots. This development has sparked concerns over the distribution of elective positions and the absence of some parties from the list.
The absence of candidates from the Action Alliance (AA), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Boot Party, and Labour Party (LP) has raised questions about the benefits of the alliance to smaller parties. A Labour Party chieftain, Favour Reuben, insisted that the party in Rivers State had not joined the coalition, adding that Labour Party members who participated in the alliance were acting in their individual capacities.
Reuben questioned how a political party could join an alliance without a written agreement spelling out the terms of engagement and the distribution of elective positions. He argued that the coalition should have allocated at least three House of Assembly seats to other participating parties, adding that the absence of a formal agreement would make it difficult for aggrieved parties to seek redress in court.
Meanwhile, a Labour Party chieftain, Hilda Dokubo, visited Wike at his Port Harcourt residence, amid speculation that she was aligning with the Wike-led Rainbow Coalition. The visit generated speculation about her possible support for the APC's Rivers governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda. Dokubo reportedly praised Wike's political influence and the coalition's unifying role, while pledging commitment to its success.
The developments have sparked concern among some residents, who questioned whether political allegiances were being influenced by personal interests rather than the people's interest and ideological convictions. Their concerns have also been fuelled by comments attributed to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who reportedly urged the people not to regard him as the political leader of the state but to recognise Wike as the leader.
A political analyst, Ignatius Chukwu, described such a position as indicative of a "conquered mind". Meanwhile, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced that the proposed campaign rally of President Bola Tinubu in Port Harcourt, scheduled for November 7, 2026, would hold at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.
The unveiling of the Rainbow Coalition's candidates has been seen as a demonstration of Wike's political strength and influence, with a huge turnout at the ceremony. A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Princewill Dike, attributed the crowd to Wike's political prowess, organizational capacity, and ability to mobilize massive support.
Key points
- The Rainbow Coalition's candidate unveiling has sparked reactions over the distribution of elective positions and the absence of some parties from the list.
- The Labour Party has denied joining the coalition, with a chieftain, Favour Reuben, questioning the benefits of the alliance to smaller parties.
- The unveiling has demonstrated Wike's political strength and influence, with a huge turnout at the ceremony.
