Human rights activist Ann-Kio Briggs, says the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State is a political movement and not a registered political party noting that voters will have to cast their ballots for candidates of recognised political parties in the 2027 elections.
Briggs made the clarification during a Television interview on Thursday, July 23, 2026, while speaking on the recent political realignment in the State following Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s decision to support the coalition.
She explained that there was a clear distinction between a political movement and a political party, stressing that the Rainbow Coalition cannot field candidates or appear on the ballot paper during elections.
According to her, Rivers people will ultimately vote for candidates presented by recognized political parties such as the APC, PDP, ADC, NDC and others, rather than for the Rainbow Coalition itself.
Briggs noted that while the coalition currently brings together politicians from different parties, including the PDP and APC, it remained an alliance of individuals and not a legally recognized political platform.
“Membership of the coalition should not become the central issue ahead of the 2027 elections. Instead, Rivers residents should focus on evaluating the candidates eventually nominated by registered political parties.
“Governor Fubara is entitled to join the coalition if he believed it served his political interests, just as other Rivers politicians were free to align themselves with the movement. The coalition does not replace the constitutional role of political parties in Nigeria’s electoral process” she said
Briggs added that while individuals are free to support or reject the Rainbow Coalition, the ultimate decision on who governs Rivers State will still be determined through candidates contesting under officially registered political parties.
She therefore urged voters to concentrate on the quality and credibility of those candidates rather than the coalition itself.
