The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday rallied political leaders and candidates from six political parties in Rivers State behind President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, declaring reconciliation among political allies and calling for sustained cooperation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike, who leads the Rainbow Coalition, spoke during the official unveiling of the coalition’s candidates in Port Harcourt, where he urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across the country to support Tinubu, irrespective of their party affiliations.
The event was attended by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, former governor and Senator Magnus Abe, political stakeholders and candidates from different parties participating in the coalition.
The gathering brought together political leaders following a period of tension and disagreements among key figures in Rivers State, with speakers pledging renewed cooperation in the interest of the state and support for Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
Addressing the gathering, Wike said the coalition was committed to uniting political interests in Rivers State, maintaining peace and mobilising support for Tinubu in 2027.
He maintained that party differences should not prevent political leaders from working together, urging PDP members in Rivers, Kwara, Benue, Ondo, Ogun and other states to support the president.
“Every PDP member in Rivers State will support Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Every PDP member in Kwara State, you will support Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Every PDP member in Benue State, you will support Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Wike said.
He extended the appeal to PDP members across the federation, insisting that those who shared the same position on the presidency should cooperate regardless of their party affiliations.
The FCT minister also criticised opposition political figures, particularly former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, questioning his political consistency and his capacity to lead an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Wike challenged the prospect of Atiku emerging as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), asking whether Rivers voters would support the former vice-president.
He accused Atiku of changing positions on political agreements, arguing that his record should be considered by voters ahead of the next general elections.
Wike also criticised former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, revisiting commitments he said Amaechi made during his administration between 2007 and 2015.
He cited past promises concerning malaria prevention and other development-related issues, questioning whether they had been fulfilled.
The minister further raised allegations concerning the management of funds during Amaechi’s tenure, referring to a judicial panel of inquiry and subsequent court proceedings. The allegations were raised by Wike at the event and were not independently established there.
Wike said the Rainbow Coalition offered a platform for politicians from different parties to work together in support of Tinubu and candidates endorsed by the alliance in Rivers State.
He urged political stakeholders to avoid actions capable of reigniting tension, warning against attempts to destabilise the state.
The minister also thanked Fubara for attending the event and unveiling the candidates, describing the governor as a member of the coalition’s political family.
He said the alliance was not based on a winner-takes-all approach but on cooperation among political parties and leaders committed to the state’s development.
Speaking before unveiling the candidates, Fubara described the gathering as an opportunity for political allies to reunite and work towards the progress of Rivers State.
The governor acknowledged Wike’s role in his political journey, expressing gratitude to the former governor and other political leaders who supported his emergence as governor.
“I’m really happy to be here. Not just being here, standing in the midst of my family. This is my family because I wouldn’t have been the governor of Rivers State if, by the grace of Almighty, I had not passed through my oga and other leaders to make it possible in our dear state,” he said.
Fubara said that, despite past disagreements, the political leaders had a shared responsibility to work for the state’s progress.
“So no matter what has happened, I’m very grateful today that, one way or the other, we are back together for a better cause and for the good of our dear state,” he added.
He pledged to work towards Tinubu’s victory in 2027 and to ensure that political power remained within the bloc represented by the coalition.
Fubara also expressed appreciation for the opportunity to unveil the candidates, describing it as a privilege and expressing confidence in their prospects in the forthcoming elections.
Also speaking, Abe called on Amaechi to reconsider his reported decision to serve as Atiku’s running mate, arguing that the arrangement contradicted the principle of power rotation between northern and southern Nigeria.
Abe said the Rainbow Coalition was firmly behind Tinubu, whom he described as the southern candidate in the presidential contest.
He recalled Amaechi’s previous arguments that Nigeria’s political stability depended on respecting an understanding that presidential power should rotate between the North and the South.
Abe questioned Amaechi’s reported alignment with Atiku, arguing that it was inconsistent with the position he had previously advocated on power rotation.
“On behalf of all of us here gathered in Rivers State, we want to call on Amaechi to immediately respect his own position and resign as the vice-presidential candidate to Atiku Abubakar, because it is the turn of the South, and Rivers State will stand by the agreement between the North and the South,” Abe said.
He also urged Atiku to respect the principle of rotation and declared his support for the Rainbow Coalition’s mobilisation efforts for Tinubu.
Speaking on behalf of candidates from six political parties, the APC governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda, said the coalition aimed to move Rivers State away from divisive party politics towards collective leadership.
Chinda said the participating parties were united by their support for Tinubu’s re-election and their commitment to peace and development in Rivers State.
“We are going to run a government for the people, that will place the interests of Rivers people first,” he said.
He pledged that candidates elected under the coalition’s arrangement would promote inclusive governance and take into account the interests of different political parties, genders and religious groups.
Chinda also said the cooperation among the participating parties should continue beyond the elections, with the parties having a role in governance.
He commended the state’s political leaders for their efforts to restore peace and expressed hope that the alliance would help prevent election-related crises.
The candidate pledged that the coalition would work towards peaceful elections, a smooth transition and an administration focused on development.
The event ended with the coalition reaffirming its support for Tinubu’s re-election and pledging to sustain cooperation among its participating parties in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
