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Port Harcourt, Rivers State – By Prime Brief Media

Two core allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have been positioned to contest the Rivers State governorship election in 2027 on the platforms of the two dominant political parties, according to sources within the Rainbow Coalition, a political network loyal to the former governor.

Alabo Dakorinama George-Kelly, a former Rivers State Commissioner for Works under Wike, has been tipped to run on the platform of the All Progressives Congress. Kingsley Chinda, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, is said to be lined up to contest on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, according to a Vanguard report citing a source within the coalition who preferred anonymity.

The reported calculations signal Wike's determination to exert maximum influence over the 2027 contest, which is expected to be a fierce battle for control of the oil-rich state currently governed by his estranged political godson, Siminalayi Fubara. By placing loyalists in both major parties, Wike is effectively hedging his bets and ensuring that regardless of the political climate in 2027, a member of his camp will be positioned to challenge Fubara or any successor the incumbent governor may anoint.

George-Kelly: The emerging frontrunner

George-Kelly, who hails from the Kalabari Ijaw extraction, contested the PDP governorship primary in 2022 and finished second behind Fubara. He was subsequently appointed Director-General of the Border Communities Development Agency by President Bola Tinubu, a role that has kept him in the federal orbit and deepened his ties to the Wike political structure.

According to the Vanguard source, the news of George-Kelly's positioning triggered jubilation among stakeholders across the state. "The report calmed all nerves because the name resonated among all the stakeholders, especially the youths. People are happy that George-Kelly has joined the governorship race," the source said.

His Kalabari Ijaw identity is seen as a strategic asset. There is a widespread sentiment that an Ijaw candidate should succeed Fubara, who is also of Ijaw extraction. George-Kelly's riverine background aligns with this expectation while his loyalty to Wike positions him as a bridge between the minister's political machinery and the broader Ijaw constituency.

Chinda: The PDP option

The positioning of Kingsley Chinda as a PDP aspirant has, however, stirred some controversy within the coalition. Chinda, who represents Obio-Akpor Federal Constituency — the same local government area as Wike — has faced pushback from some stakeholders who view the development as selfish and lacking broad resonance.

"That report created some storm even in the coalition because Chinda hails from Obio-Akpor and some people read the development as selfish. Apart from that, the name did not resonate with many stakeholders in the state," the source said.

Despite this, Chinda, a long-serving lawmaker and one of the most senior opposition figures in the National Assembly, commands considerable influence within the PDP's national structure. His name has featured consistently in discussions about the 2027 Rivers gubernatorial race, and his candidacy would represent a direct challenge to the Fubara camp from within the governor's own party.

The Rainbow Coalition strategy

The Rainbow Coalition, which Wike has described as a political movement comprising members of different political parties united under the "Renewed Hope Family," has been the minister's primary vehicle for consolidating power in Rivers since falling out with Fubara. Wike has repeatedly declared that candidates supported by the coalition will sweep all elective positions in the state in 2027.

"The objective is to present a loyal candidate that will appeal to all stakeholders, including those who are standing with Governor Fubara," the source told Vanguard.

However, the Inter-Party Advisory Council in Rivers State has previously dismissed the Rainbow Coalition's claims, asserting that political parties in the state will not unite under a single banner for the 2027 elections. Some parties, IPAC has noted, are backing Governor Fubara for re-election.

At press time, neither George-Kelly nor Chinda had issued formal declarations of candidacy. The Rainbow Coalition has not made an official statement. Governor Fubara's camp has also not commented.

Prime Brief Media is closely following political reactions and will provide updates as the situation evolves.

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