Politics
2027: Wike Urges Ogoni People To Reward Tinubu With Votes
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, has said that Ogoni people will reward President Bola Tinubu with their votes in the 2027 general elections for giving them a Federal University of Environment and Technology and appointing their sons and daughters into key federal positions.
The Minister, who said the Federal University of Environment and Technology will become a major driver of employment, economic growth and development in the Ogoni area, spoke on Wednesday at a Rainbow Coalition town hall meeting with the people of Tai at Gbenegininwa Hall, Saakpenwa, Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He urged residents to appreciate the long-term benefits of the institution, describing its establishment as a significant achievement that could transform the fortunes of the area.
Chief Wike said the university was the product of sustained efforts by the late Senator Barry Mpigi, who worked to secure federal approval for its establishment before his death.
“If you don’t know what it is, even me as a minister, it would be difficult to go through the National Assembly. The National Assembly will pass it, it will now go to the President. Sometimes, the bill will stay there for years,” he said.
The minister’s remarks came as the Tai Local Government Council disclosed plans to partner with him on an estate project intended to provide accommodation for students, parents and visitors to the institution.
At the town hall meeting, Chief Wike also welcomed political associates who had returned to the Rainbow Coalition after disagreements, describing their reunion as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation among leaders and supporters.
He said the group had not broken into separate political parties, adding that the disagreements that arose among members should not prevent them from working together.
“Let me first of all welcome my brothers. They didn’t go anywhere. There was no fight, they didn’t go to any other party, the same party, but there was a small fight and so we’ve all come back together to work as a team,” he said.
The minister commended the local government chairman for his commitment to reconciliation and urged the leadership to ensure that returning members were treated fairly.
He said the reintegration process should be genuine and inclusive, stressing that political differences should not be allowed to undermine the group’s cohesion.
Chief Wike said the meeting was also intended to enable political stakeholders to assess their options and consider what would best serve the interests of Tai, Ogoni and the Rivers South-East Senatorial District.
He urged residents to examine the records of political leaders seeking their support rather than rely solely on campaign promises.
The minister questioned what some political figures had done for the area while occupying public offices, arguing that voters should assess their contributions to the development of Rivers State and the country.
Chief Wike also challenged political leaders in Tai to meet a proposed target of securing 70 per cent of votes for President Tinubu and other candidates supported by the Rainbow Coalition in the forthcoming elections.
He clarified that the target was based on votes cast in favour of the candidates, rather than 70 per cent of registered voters.
The minister recalled that Tai had traditionally been among the first local governments to deliver its election results in the Rivers South-East Senatorial District.
He encouraged the local government to maintain its record, adding that it could receive additional support if it achieved the target.
Chief Wike said the proposed incentive was intended to encourage political mobilisation and strengthen the coalition’s grassroots organisation.
Politics
My Administration’ll End Political Acrimony In Rivers – Chinda
Governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Rivers State in the forthcoming 2027 election, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, has vowed to run an all inclusive administration that would ensure political harmony in the state, if elected into power.
Hon. Chinda, who is also the preferred governorship candidate of the Rainbow Coalition, said this shortly after he was unveiled along side other candidates of the political arrangement at a grand rally in Port Harcourt.
He said the coalition was committed to ending political divisions and promoting unity among the various political parties in the state.
Hon. Chinda also promised to make Rivers State experience peace, progress and development during his tenure as governor of the state.
“We are no longer divided on party lines.We are no longer playing the politics of the winner takes it all’’, he said.
Hon. Chinda, who spoke on behalf of the other candidates of the Rainbow Coalition, said the coalition’s vision extends beyond electoral victory, adding that its proposed government would accommodate people, irrespective of political affiliations, gender and religious belief.
“We are going to run a government for the people, with the best interests of Rivers people first,” he said.
Hon. Chinda also commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, for bringing political stakeholders together under the umbrella of the Rainbow Coalition, while lauding Governor Siminalayi Fubara for presenting flags to the candidates.
He expressed optimism that the alliance would promote peaceful elections, a smooth transition of power and development projects capable of improving the lives of Rivers residents.
While presenting flags to chosen candidates of the Rainbow Coalition, Governor Fubara called on members of the Coalition and his supporters to put past disagreements behind them and work together under a common leadership ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He acknowledged Chief Wike’s role in his political journey and described the Minister of the FCT as the leader of the Rainbow Coalition.
Governor Fubara said the political groups had come together as one family and should no longer maintain separate camps.
He also pledged to support the coalition’s candidates and President Tinubu’s re-election bid, expressing optimism that cooperation among political stakeholders would strengthen the alliance.
Also speaking, Chief Wike urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties across the country to support President Tinubu’s re-election.
He called on politicians to set aside party differences and work together towards the coalition’s political objectives.
Chief Wike said the Rainbow Coalition represents a common political platform for stakeholders from different parties who had agreed to support the President and candidates seeking elective offices in Rivers State.
He also urged PDP members in Rivers, Kwara, Ogun and other states to support President Tinubu, while calling for support for the coalition’s candidates contesting the governorship, National Assembly and Rivers State House of Assembly elections.
The former Rivers State governor also addressed divisions within the PDP, rejecting attempts to portray him as merely a factional leader of the party.
He further criticised some opposition figures over their political ambitions and records in public office, particularly former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
Meanwhile, former Senator Magnus Abe has also called on Mr Amaechi to withdraw from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential arrangement with Alhaji Abubakar and support President Tinubu.
Senator Abe argued that the presidency should remain in Southern Nigeria, insisting that political leaders should respect the principle of power rotation between the North and South.
He recalled the controversy surrounding former President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid, arguing that Mr Amaechi had previously opposed Dr Jonathan’s ambition on the grounds of power rotation.
“Today, the same man who led us to go against our son and our brother is now trying to lead us to go and support somebody from the North when it is the turn of the South.
“On behalf of all of us here gathered in Rivers State, we want to call on Amaechi to immediately respect his own position and resign as the vice-presidential candidate to Atiku Abubakar, because it is the turn of the South, and Rivers State will stand by the agreement between the North and the South,” he said.
Senator Abe also reaffirmed the coalition’s support for President Tinubu, declaring: “We are not just with Tinubu, We are with Tinubu. We are for Tinubu. We are by Tinubu. We are in Tinubu. We are Tinubu here in this coalition”, Senator Abe declared.
The event featured the presentation of candidates for various elective positions under the Rainbow Coalition.
John Bibor, Ephraim Godslove, Lazarus Ada, Chidibem Juliet & Okugbere Oghenetijiri
Politics
2027: Support Groups Pledge Grassroots Mobilisation For Tinubu, Rainbow Coalition Candidates
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, some political groups in Rivers State have endorsed the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office.
The groups: Rivers State Door-To-Door Movement and Non Indegenes Without Borders spoke with The Tide during the unveiling of candidates of The Rainbow Coalition in Port Harcourt.
They not only reaffirmed their commitment to the re-election of President Tinubu, but pledged to work towards ensuring victory for candidates of the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State.
Responding, Coordinator of the Rivers State Door-To-Door Movement, Mr Rayman ThankGod, said his group was committed to grassroots mobilization across the state, adding that his organization has setup it’s network across all electoral units in the state.
According to him, the group, which has established its presence across the 23 local government areas, was prepared to intensify its mobilisation efforts to promote the coalition’s agenda.
“As the name implies, we are known for our grassroots mobilisation. That is the essence of the Rivers State Door-to-Door Movement,” he said.
He added that the group had been in existence before the campaign’s official commencement and was ready to reach out to communities across the state through its network of members.
Mr ThankGod said his organization had not received support from any quarters, adding that the activities of The Rivers State Door-To-Door Movement was being financed by himself.
Speaking on the achievements of President Tinubu’s administration, he argued that four years might not be sufficient to demonstrate the full impact of its policies and projects, stressing that the administration should be given more time to implement its plans for national development.
On her part, National Leader of Non-Indigenes Without Borders, Hon. Eunice Obire, described the coalition as a welcome development, noting that it has brought people from different political parties together in support of a common political direction.
Hon. Obire said the alliance could promote unity and development in Rivers State, pointing to the turnout at the gathering as evidence of public interest in the movement.
She maintained that cooperation among the participating political parties could strengthen their collective electoral prospects, arguing that unity would give the coalition an advantage over parties contesting independently.
According to her, the coalition was not limited to the presidential election but extended to other elective positions, including governorship, senatorial and House of Representatives seats.
“The coalition is not just for the presidency alone. It covers the entire range of elective positions,” she said.
Hon. Obire added that supporters had a responsibility to work towards the success of the candidates selected under the coalition’s arrangement.
The Rainbow Coalition is seeking to consolidate support across political groups in Rivers State ahead of the forthcoming elections. However, the extent to which the alliance will influence voting patterns and electoral competition remains to be seen.
Samuel Otuogbai, Christopher Samuel, Sarah Pascal & Orlu Salvation
News
Lawmaker Sets Sights On Assembly Return …As Mammoth Crowd Grace Flag Handover Rally
The member representing Oyigbo State Constituency in the Rivers State House of Assembly,Hon. Prince Gerald Oforji, has received the All Progressives Congress (APC) Rainbow Coalition flag as he prepares to seek re-election in the 2027 general elections.
Oforji, a former Chairman of Oyigbo Local Government Council, was among the returning lawmakers unveiled as candidates of the APC Rainbow Coalition at a ceremony held at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt last Tuesday.
The event attracted prominent political leaders from within and outside Rivers State, including the National Rainbow Coalition leader, Chief Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
The presentation of the flag to Oforji was greeted with enthusiastic cheers from supporters, reflecting the political support he enjoys in Oyigbo and the wider Rivers political landscape.
His emergence as the coalition’s candidate is a significant step in his bid to return to the State Assembly, where he has continued to participate in legislative activities representing the interests of his constituency.
Oforji is also regarded as one of the lawmakers who maintained strong political loyalty to Chief Wike during periods of intense political realignment in Rivers State, a position that has remained a notable feature of his political journey.
The mammoth crowd of supporters who accompanied him to the ceremony further underscored the enthusiasm surrounding his re-election bid and the political significance of his candidacy in Oyigbo.
With the presentation of the Rainbow Coalition flag, Oforji is set to enter the 2027 electoral contest under the APC platform, seeking another mandate to represent Oyigbo State Constituency.
His candidacy also adds another chapter to the political history of Oyigbo, particularly given his previous experience as local government chairman before his election to the State Assembly.
The Oforji family equally occupies a place in the political history of Oyigbo, with the late Precious Oforji remembered for his contributions to the area’s political development. The family’s legacy continues to feature in discussions about the constituency’s political evolution.
As the 2027 elections approach, Oforji’s re-election bid will place his record in the State Assembly, political alliances and relationship with his constituents at the centre of the contest for the Oyigbo seat.
-
Sports4 days agoNigerian Trio Target Titles At PFL Africa Finals
-
Education4 days agoFCE Yola Graduates 3,555 Teachers , Seeks Upgrade to University
-
Niger Delta4 days agoDiri Restates Stance On Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway
-
Niger Delta4 days agoC’River, NUJ Pay Tribute To Late Guardian Editor
-
News4 days agoNDLEA Recovers Tons Of Illicit Drug Consignments In Nine States
-
Opinion4 days agoChecking Voter Apathy In Nigeria’s Electoral Process
-
Politics4 days ago2027: DICKSON’S EX-ALLY VOWS TO WORK AGAINST NDC INTEREST IN BAYELSA
-
Politics4 days ago2027: GROUP PLEDGES 40,000 SUPPORTERS FOR COALITION CANDIDATES IN RIVERS
