The Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State has unveiled its most popular canddiates for the 2027 normal elections, with politicians from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) pledging to assist the group’s adopted candidates.
The coalition additionally endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in the upcoming presidential election.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, introduced the coalition’s stance on Tuesday. The occasion was aired by Arise News.
Mr Wike acknowledged that the coalition was fashioned to unite politicians throughout social gathering traces behind Mr Tinubu and stop a return to political divisions in the state.
“Rainbow Coalition means no harm but to bring people together from all the political parties to support Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he mentioned.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who attended the occasion, additionally pledged to work for the coalition’s victory, citing Mr Tinubu’s assist for him throughout a tough interval.
“I will do everything within my power to ensure that we have victory, not just for Mr President who has stood for me in my most difficult time,” he mentioned.
Mr Fubara urged members to place apart disagreements over management, saying the coalition ought to function as one political household.
“We are now in one house. And because we have one house, there is no issue about who is the leader,” he mentioned.
PDP pledges assist
Sunny Ejekwu, the PDP governorship candidate in Rivers State, famous that his social gathering had agreed to assist candidates chosen beneath the coalition and mobilise voters for them.
He described the alliance as an effort to ease political tensions and produce rival events collectively.
“The Rainbow Coalition is one of its kind. It is a phenomenon that has been introduced to bring harmony to our politics in Rivers State,” he mentioned.
Mr Ejekwu additionally backed Mr Tinubu’s re-election bid, saying the president must be allowed to finish a second term.
Wike criticises Atiku, Amaechi
Mr Wike used the occasion to criticise former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over his place on energy rotation between northern and southern Nigeria.
He recalled that Mr Abubakar opposed former President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid in 2015 on the grounds that it breached an understanding on energy rotation. Mr Wike questioned whether or not the previous vice-president had remained constant on the problem forward of the 2027 election.
“Knowing your records, you say one thing today, you say another thing tomorrow,” he mentioned.
The minister additionally attacked former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi over initiatives and spending throughout his administration, which ended in 2015.
He questioned the spending on malaria management, a specialist hospital and the state’s monorail undertaking, arguing that residents had not acquired the anticipated advantages.
Mr Wike additional alleged that the state’s gasoline turbine was offered for $308 million in December 2014, however that solely $308,000 remained in the related account when he took workplace in May 2015.
He mentioned a judicial panel of inquiry investigated the transaction and that its findings survived appeals as much as the Supreme Court. He challenged Mr Amaechi to account for the proceeds.
The allegations had been made in Mr Wike’s speech. A response from Mr Amaechi was not included in the transcript of the occasion.
Coalition presents candidates
The coalition offered candidates for the governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and Rivers State House of Assembly elections.
The listing offered on the occasion named Kingsley Chinda as its governorship candidate and Major Jack because the deputy governorship candidate, each beneath the APC.
Its senatorial candidates included Felix Amaechi Obua for Rivers West and Allwell Iheanacho for Rivers East, each beneath the APC, and Olaka Johnson Nwogu for Rivers South-East beneath the PDP.
Speaking on behalf of the candidates, Mr Chinda mentioned the alliance would put aside social gathering variations and pursue inclusive governance if its candidates had been elected.
“We are no longer divided on party lines. We are no longer playing the politics of the winner takes it all,” he mentioned.
He additionally pledged that the coalition would stay collectively after the elections.
The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for 16 January 2027, whereas the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will maintain on 6 February.
Mr Wike mentioned Mr Tinubu would go to Rivers State on 7 November for a presidential marketing campaign rally on the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Igwuruta. He urged supporters to attend in massive numbers.
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