The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has stepped up political mobilisation in Rivers State, urging voters to support President Bola Tinubu and selected candidates from both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2027 general elections.
Wike made the appeal on Friday, October 16, 2026, during a Rainbow Coalition town hall meeting in Ayama, Abua-Odual Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The former Rivers governor outlined a voting arrangement that would see supporters back Tinubu for president while dividing their votes among candidates from different political parties for other elective offices.
He described the arrangement as part of a broader effort to unite political interests around common electoral objectives without requiring supporters to belong to the same party.
Wike Names Candidates for 2027 Elections in Rivers
Addressing community leaders, party supporters and residents, Wike called for Tinubu’s re-election under the APC.
He also endorsed Kingsley Chinda, the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, as his preferred successor to Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
For the National Assembly elections, Wike urged voters to support Felix Obuah for Rivers West Senatorial District and Solomon Bob for the Abua-Odual/Ahoada East Federal Constituency, both on the APC platform.
However, his recommendation for the Abua-Odual State Constituency was different.
The minister asked residents to support John Dominic Iderima, the PDP candidate, arguing that the Rainbow Coalition should accommodate political interests across party lines.
The endorsements demonstrated the coalition’s unusual approach to the 2027 elections, with presidential, governorship and legislative candidates from different parties receiving support under one political arrangement.
Why Wike Is Supporting Both APC and PDP Candidates
Wike, a prominent PDP figure serving in Tinubu’s APC-led Federal Government, has repeatedly maintained that supporting the president does not require him to abandon his party.
At the Abua-Odual gathering, he explained that his preferred voting arrangement would benefit both APC and PDP candidates while advancing Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
He presented the Rainbow Coalition as a political understanding that brings together supporters from different platforms.
The initiative has attracted attention because it challenges the conventional expectation that political leaders should campaign exclusively for candidates belonging to their own parties.
Wike has nevertheless insisted that his personal political priority is Tinubu’s re-election.
Wike Praises Tinubu’s Leadership, Criticises Political Rivals
During the town hall, the FCT minister defended Tinubu’s record in office, claiming that the administration had made progress in stabilising important sectors of the Nigerian economy.
He also praised the government’s handling of industrial relations in tertiary institutions, arguing that the president deserved additional time to consolidate his policies.
Turning to opposition politicians, Wike criticised repeated presidential ambitions that he said were not supported by convincing development programmes.
He warned voters against making political decisions based solely on familiar names or campaign promises.
Wike also referred to the experience of former United States President Abraham Lincoln, arguing that political persistence should be accompanied by a clear sense of purpose.
His comments were directed at opposition figures whom he accused of pursuing electoral contests without presenting sufficiently credible alternatives.
Those criticisms represent Wike’s political assessment rather than independently established facts about his opponents.
Wike Defends His Development Record in Rivers
The former governor also asked residents to consider the development records of politicians seeking their votes in 2027.
He pointed to infrastructure projects undertaken during his administration and challenged other former governors to identify comparable contributions to Abua-Odual.
According to Wike, voters should assess candidates on their achievements, their ability to deliver public projects and their understanding of community needs.
He maintained that practical development should carry greater weight than political slogans or repeated promises.
Kingsley Chinda Promises Grassroots Governance
Speaking at the gathering, APC governorship candidate Kingsley Chinda praised Wike for taking the Rainbow Coalition’s message directly to communities across Rivers State.
Chinda said the grassroots engagement approach would influence how he intends to govern if elected.
He promised a system in which residents would have greater opportunities to participate in decisions affecting their communities.
The governorship candidate also expressed appreciation for the political support being mobilised through the coalition ahead of the election.
Earlier, Professor Continue Eketu, who spoke on behalf of Abua-Odual communities, commended Wike’s leadership and recalled development projects undertaken in the area during his tenure as governor.
Eketu said community representatives were prepared to support the candidates endorsed by the Rainbow Coalition.
Rainbow Coalition Faces Opposition From Political Stakeholders
The coalition’s activities have generated disagreement among political organisations, including leaders within the APC.
Some APC governors have questioned the wisdom of supporting politicians who remain in opposition parties while campaigning for the president.
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has also challenged suggestions that political parties in Rivers State are collectively bound by Wike’s arrangements.
IPAC has argued that decisions concerning political alliances and endorsements should be made through the recognised structures of individual political parties.
Despite the criticism, Wike has continued defending the Rainbow Coalition as a vehicle for attracting support for Tinubu beyond the ruling party.
Rivers Politics Takes Shape Ahead of 2027 Elections
The developments underline the changing nature of political alliances in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike’s political influence, his relationship with the APC-led Federal Government and his continuing involvement in PDP affairs have made the state an important arena for cross-party cooperation and rivalry.
His latest endorsements provide a clearer picture of how the Rainbow Coalition intends to approach the presidential, governorship and legislative elections.
However, the success of the arrangement will depend on whether the candidates can persuade voters to accept a voting strategy that crosses traditional party boundaries.
With political campaigns gathering momentum, the coalition’s activities are likely to remain a major issue in Rivers State’s election discussions.
