The Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State, initiated by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is facing questions over its commitment to political inclusiveness after the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured all the elective tickets unveiled under the alliance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The coalition, which brings together six political parties to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, comprises the APC, PDP, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Labour Party and Action Alliance (AA).
However, the distribution of tickets at the coalition’s unveiling on Tuesday, October 27, has triggered criticism from members of some participating parties, who argue that the arrangement has given the APC and PDP an overwhelming advantage while leaving the other parties without elective representation.
Of the three senatorial tickets, the APC secured two, while the PDP got one. The APC also won 10 of the 13 House of Representatives nominations, with the PDP taking the remaining three.
For the 32 seats in the Rivers State House of Assembly, the APC secured 21 tickets, while the PDP got 11. None of the other four parties in the coalition produced a candidate at the unveiling.
The other parties were also reportedly said to have adopted the APC governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda, and his running mate, Major Jack, although candidates from some of the participating parties, including the Labour Party, were not mentioned despite reportedly appearing on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s final candidates’ list.
The arrangement has raised concerns about whether the alliance represents a genuine power-sharing partnership or a political agreement in which some parties have limited influence.
A Labour Party chieftain in Rivers State, Favour Reuben, questioned the coalition’s claim of inclusiveness, particularly after Chinda pledged to run an inclusive government following the presentation of the APC flag to him by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt after the unveiling, Reuben described the promise as a familiar political tactic and argued that the participating parties should have negotiated their share of elective positions before endorsing the alliance.
He questioned why only APC and PDP candidates received party flags while other coalition members were left with assurances of future appointments.
“If you believe in inclusiveness, why not give one Assembly seat to the Labour Party and give them seats in the House of Representatives?” Reuben asked.
He further disputed claims that the Labour Party, as an institution, had joined the coalition, alleging that the decision was taken by the state chairman without broader consultation with party members and structures.
According to him, the involvement of the party’s local government and ward leadership would have been evident if the decision had received wider institutional support.
The Rivers South-East senatorial candidate of the Action Alliance, Fabeke, also rejected his party’s reported participation in the coalition, accusing the state leadership of taking the decision without consulting candidates and other stakeholders.
In a letter to the party’s state chairman, Fabeke complained about what he described as a lack of transparency and disregard for internal party procedures. He alleged that some candidates who participated in the party’s primaries and contributed to its development were removed from the candidates’ list without his knowledge.
Fabeke also claimed to have personally supported the party’s organisational activities, including its ward and local government congresses and the state secretariat.
Public affairs analyst Jackson Ojo similarly questioned how parties without candidates would benefit from the arrangement.
While acknowledging that coalitions could bring together political interests from different backgrounds, Ojo said the distribution of elective positions should reflect the principle of fairness and give participating parties a sense of belonging.
He argued that the unveiling suggested an arrangement dominated by the APC and PDP, adding that a more balanced distribution of legislative seats would have demonstrated a stronger commitment to inclusiveness.
However, Professor of Politics and Governance at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Kenneth Nweke, offered a different explanation for the participation of smaller parties.
Nweke suggested that some candidates might have joined the coalition because they believed their chances of winning elections independently were limited.
He argued that political considerations, including the possibility of securing appointments and access to government, could have influenced their decisions more than collective party interests.
According to him, the arrangement could ultimately be judged by whether participating parties and their members receive opportunities within the state and federal governments after the elections.
A chieftain of the APC in Rivers State and member of the Rainbow Coalition, Chief Loveday Okere, defended the distribution of tickets, attributing it to the political circumstances surrounding the parties when the decisions were reached.
Okere said Wike’s support for Tinubu was partly intended to reciprocate the President’s decision to appoint him, an opposition figure at the time, as FCT Minister.
He explained that the coalition was designed to align Rivers State with the Federal Government, arguing that an APC-led administration in the state would strengthen cooperation with the President and attract development opportunities.
On why the APC secured most of the tickets, Okere said the PDP was dealing with an internal crisis when the arrangements were being made, while other parties either lacked sufficient political strength or were not adequately positioned during the negotiations.
He also said the APM joined the coalition after the parties had concluded their primaries.
Dismissing concerns that the arrangement favoured only the parties with candidates, Okere maintained that the coalition was not a winner-takes-all agreement.
He assured members of the participating parties that they would be considered for government appointments after the elections, arguing that political participation should also be measured by opportunities to serve in government.
The Rainbow Coalition is primarily aimed at mobilising support for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027. Its ability to maintain unity among the participating parties may depend on how its leaders address concerns over representation, consultation and the sharing of political opportunities.
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