Wike’s camp denies plans to hijack Rivers State, saying the Rainbow Coalition is focused on good governance and credible elections
The Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State, spearheaded by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has rejected allegations that it is plotting to hijack the state ahead of the 2027 elections.
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The coalition described the allegation of a planned “state capture” as unfounded, insisting that its activities are driven by what it considers the broader interests of the people of Rivers State.
The coalition’s spokesman, Chibuike Ikenga, made the clarification during an interview on Arise Television on Thursday.
Ikenga said the Rainbow Coalition was being positioned as a strategic political platform aimed at promoting good governance, transparency and accountability in the state.
He also pointed to the growing participation of political groups in the coalition, noting that the Labour Party had recently joined the alliance.
“You saw what has happened recently. You also saw yesterday video trending online where the Labour Party had also come to join in the Rainbow Coalition,” Ikenga said.
According to him, the coalition’s expanding membership should not be interpreted as an attempt by Wike and his allies to take control of Rivers State for personal or political interests.
“So we want to discountenance the fact many are saying that we are plotting a state capture. We are all Rivers people. We are interested in the interests of Rivers State,” he said.
Ikenga argued that the coalition’s stated priorities were centred on issues that directly affect the people of the state.
“What is interest of Rivers State? Good governance, free, fair, and credible election, transparency, and then accountability,” he said.
He maintained that these principles were the focus of the coalition rather than what he described as political “shenanigans”.
“That’s what we are pursuing, as against the shenanigans that they were doing,” Ikenga added.
The development comes as political alignments continue to take shape in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections, with various groups and political actors positioning themselves for the contest.
The Rainbow Coalition, backed by Wike, has increasingly attracted attention because of its emerging political alliances and the former Rivers governor’s continued influence in the state.
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Ikenga, however, insisted that the coalition’s activities should be viewed through the lens of its stated commitment to the interests of Rivers people rather than allegations of an attempt to capture the state politically.
