Wike Unveils Rainbow Coalition Candidates, Declares Rivers Fully Behind Tinubu

The unveiling of Rainbow Coalition candidates took place on Tuesday at Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt, with Nyesom Wike presiding as Federal Capital Territory Minister. Thousands of supporters gathered to witness the occasion, which culminated in the distribution of party flags to contenders representing various political groups.

Wike seized the platform to affirm that Rivers State has thrown its complete backing behind President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential race. Four distinct political organizations comprise the Rainbow Coalition: the Action Alliance, the All Progressives Congress, the Labour Party, and the Peoples Democratic Party.

As the coalition's architect and chief, Wike leveraged the event to declare an end to divisions that had previously split the state's political establishment. He committed that , Rivers would be spared from fresh cycles of bloodshed, violence, and factional conflict.

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara attended the proceedings following his reconciliation with Wike, after periods of tension between them. During his remarks, Fubara told his supporters to cease treating him as their chief political figure, clarifying that he now functions as a coalition participant answerable to Wike's authority.

Wike directed harsh criticism toward Atiku Abubakar, who runs as the African Democratic Congress's presidential contender. Once counted among Atiku's most zealous devotees across multiple election cycles, Wike now challenged the former vice-president's reliability and steadfastness in political partnerships.

His statements represented a sharp fracture in a bond forged over numerous electoral contests.