Wike-backed party wins most Rivers nominations
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Punch
The Rainbow coalition backed by Nyesom Wike, Nigeria’s minister of the Federal Capital Territory, is facing opposition in Rivers State after its parties divided electoral nominations. At the presentation of candidates on 27 October, the All Progressives Congress secured two of three Senate seats and 10 of 13 House of Representatives nominations, Punch reports.
Nigeria’s ruling APC secured most of the Rainbow coalition’s nominations in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections. At the presentation of candidates on 27 October, it received two of the three senatorial seats, 10 of the 13 House of Representatives nominations and 21 of the 32 nominations for the state assembly, Punch reports.
The PDP received the remaining nominations: one Senate seat, three House of Representatives nominations and 11 for the state assembly. The coalition’s four other parties — the APGA, APM, Labour Party and Action Alliance — put forward no candidates for these seats. However, they reportedly backed the APC’s candidate for governor, Kingsley Chinda, and his running mate, Major Jack.
The Rainbow coalition was launched by Nyesom Wike, Nigeria’s minister responsible for the Federal Capital Territory, to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election in 2027. Political observers in Rivers interviewed by Punch questioned the balance of the distribution of nominations. The names of candidates from the other parties, including Labour Party candidates listed on the final list of the Independent National Electoral Commission, were not mentioned at the presentation.
The distribution of nominations came after Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara gave up his bid for a second term and handed political control of the state to Wike, according to a report published on 1 November 2026 on Fubara’s withdrawal.
