The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has downplayed growing speculation around early contenders for the 2027 Rivers State governorship race, choosing instead to emphasize political strategy over individual ambitions.
Reacting to reports that federal lawmaker Okey Chinda may have obtained a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination form, Wike stopped short of confirming or dismissing the claim. He, however, made it clear that the Peoples Democratic Party remains firmly in the race in Rivers State.
Shifting focus beyond party lines, Wike described former Commissioner for Works, Dax George-Kelly, as part of a broader political alliance known as the Rainbow Coalition. According to him, the coalition—not individual aspirants—will ultimately determine which candidate to back when the election draws closer. 
The FCT Minister also used the opportunity to take a swipe at the factional leadership crisis within the PDP. He challenged the Tanimu Turaki-led caretaker committee to establish a parallel national secretariat in Abuja, questioning the legitimacy of their operations.
Wike further raised doubts about the group’s capacity to conduct party activities, pointedly asking where aspirants aligned with the faction would pay for their expression of interest and nomination forms.
His comments highlight not only the lingering divisions within the PDP but also a shifting political landscape in Rivers State, where alliances like the Rainbow Coalition could play a decisive role in shaping the outcome of the next governorship election.
