Opposition parties in Rivers State battle for survival over what political pundits describe as Nyesom Wike’s Rainbow Coalition earthshaking strategy to ensure a sweeping electoral victory in the oil-rich state come 2027
By Chinedu Oguh, Port Harcourt
The release of the 2027 governorship candidates list by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has opened a new and delicate phase in Rivers politics, with indications that the Wike-led Rainbow Coalition may be preparing to deploy a sweeping electoral strategy that could turn several party tickets into one consolidated political machine.
Penultimate Saturday, INEC’s headquarters in Port Harcourt published on its notice board the credentials and other particulars of governorship and House of Assembly candidates submitted by political parties for the 2027 general elections in the oil-rich state.
The state INEC office displayed Form EC-9 containing the names, parties, ages, educational qualifications, and other credentials cleared to contest the elections.
Among the 19 political parties cleared for the governorship race are the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Others are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Accord Party (AP), All Peoples Party (APP), Boot Party (BP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). Also cleared for the 2027 governorship race are the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Young Peoples Party (YPP), ADP, DLA, NRM, AAC, AA and APM.
The particulars of the running mates to the governorship candidates of the NDC deputy governorship candidate, Dr. Mike Barieenee Nwielaghi, and that of the Boot Party (BP) were not visibly displayed on Form EC-9.
The published names include Hon. Ogundu Kingsley Chinda, the APC governorship candidate, with Major Jack as his running mate. Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs was listed as the candidate of the NDC, while the ADC candidate and running mate were listed as Gabriel Pidomson and Okumgba David Amapakabo.
Other governorship candidates and their running mates are: Ejekwu Samuel Soni and Chuwa Kabaka of the PDP; Chibuzor Rani and Davies Ikubogh of Accord; Tata Kenneth and Dappa Kelvin of APP; Lawson Angel and Azunwena Regina of ADP; Benjamin Oli of BP (with no deputy visibly displayed); Warigbani Zebulum and Joseph Udo of DLA; Minaibim Harry and Iweeli Ogunda Ada of NRM; Azimiku Gidiom and Ogochukwu Hekerem of SDP; and Kiegha Nature Dumale and Membere Deborah of PRP.
Others are Harry Victor Godwin and Agumbo Nnamdi of ZLP; Obu Omangima and John-Woke Geraldine of APGA; West Ivy and Eletuo Ijendu of AAC; Eke Benjamin Isreal and Awortu Charles of AA; Abiye Georgewell and Gbimadee Raymond of NNPP; Johnbull Obarssu and Taagalwobari Celestine of YPP; and White Churchill and Bardum Zanvalo of APM.
Mr. Success Jack, the Rivers State Chairman of the NDC, when contacted, expressed shock over the non-display of Form EC-9 of the party’s Deputy Governorship candidate, blaming the development on what he described as an apparent lapse by INEC.
The NDC Deputy Governorship candidate, Dr. Mike Barieenee Nwielaghi, was short of words but later forwarded a photocopy of his Form EC-9 to Tentacle for clarity. The National Secretariat of the NDC had earlier raised the alarm that INEC was deliberately or otherwise dropping the names of some of its candidates or changing them, warning that the party would challenge such actions in court.
But beyond the published names, the larger political story is the alleged strategy unfolding behind the ballot. Tentacle gathered that apart from the NDC and the ADC, several other political parties may have already fused into the Rainbow Coalition being driven by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike.
Sources familiar with the manoeuvring alleged that some parties were sponsored to field governorship candidates and running mates only as a camouflage, with the expectation that they would later publicly step down for the coalition’s consensus candidate, Hon. Ogundu Okechukwu Chinda of the APC.
Reports claimed that governorship nomination forms in some of the parties were purchased for the candidates by leaders with the Rainbow Coalition. It was also alleged that some candidates and their running mates were drafted into the race not entirely out of personal volition, but after being politically persuaded with promises of appointments and other benefits after the election.
The development has raised concerns among opposition figures and analysts who fear that Rivers may be heading toward an election in which the number of names on the ballot may not reflect the real number of independent political forces in the contest.
Political watchers in the state are of the view that it remains a mystery how one man sitting in Abuja can control the political affairs of a state like Rivers and continue to have his way.
Wike insisted that the current Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, would not return for a second term, and he made it possible, even after the governor joined the APC, the ruling party. With the high number of APC governors in the country, many expected the party to protect one of its own, but that did not happen.
Even more interesting is the fact that Wike is still a member of the PDP, yet he appears to call the shots in what happens politically in APC-controlled Rivers State. The APC National Assembly and State Assembly candidates for the 2027 general elections were also widely seen as being backed by his political structure.
According to a political analyst, Ndubuisi Nicholas Ifediora, “Whether you like him or hate him, one thing is difficult to deny: Wike has built a formidable political structure for himself in Rivers State. Taking Rivers away from his political camp in 2027 will be a serious battle.”
