FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has unveiled 49 Rainbow Coalition candidates in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections. The announcement brings together politicians from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under a political alliance that also supports President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The candidates were presented on Tuesday, October 27, at Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt. Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara attended the event and pledged his support for the coalition.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, 34 candidates will contest under the APC, while 15 will represent the PDP. The coalition selected candidates for governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and Rivers State House of Assembly seats.
Wike Rainbow Coalition Candidates Share APC and PDP Tickets
The coalition named Kingsley Chinda of the APC as its preferred governorship candidate, with Major Jack as his running mate. It also presented candidates for the state’s three senatorial districts.
Felix Amaechi Obua will contest for Rivers West under the APC, while Allwell Iheanacho represents the party for Rivers East. Olaka Johnson Nwogu of the PDP emerged as the coalition’s choice for Rivers South-East.
For the House of Representatives, the alliance selected 13 candidates. Ten belong to the APC, while three are members of the PDP. The State House of Assembly list contains 32 candidates, comprising 21 APC members and 11 PDP members.
The coalition brings together politicians from several parties, including the APC, PDP, Labour Party, Action Alliance, All Progressives Grand Alliance and Allied Peoples Movement. However, only APC and PDP candidates appeared on its list of preferred candidates for the elections.
Wike, Fubara Back Tinubu’s Re-election Bid
Wike said the Rainbow Coalition aims to unite politicians across party lines and mobilise support for Tinubu in 2027. He urged political leaders to set aside their differences and work towards the alliance’s stated objectives.
Fubara also pledged to support the coalition, describing the gathering as an opportunity to reunite political allies. His appearance alongside Wike signals a public effort to move beyond their prolonged political disagreement in Rivers State.
The relationship between the two leaders deteriorated in 2023, triggering a political crisis involving the state government and lawmakers. Their renewed public alignment could reshape political cooperation in the state ahead of the next election.
The coalition’s announcement, however, does not by itself confirm the candidates as officially nominated by their respective parties. Their final status will depend on the applicable party nomination processes and electoral requirements.
Nigeria’s presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6.
