Consensus candidate: Rivers awaits Wike’s rainbow coalition
• Chinda, Eji on the governorship card There is suspense in Rivers State over the proposed coalition expected to produce a consensus governorship candidate for next year’s poll. The coalition
• Chinda, Eji on the governorship card
There is suspense in Rivers State over the proposed coalition expected to produce a consensus governorship candidate for next year’s poll.
The coalition of both ruling and opposition parties is being spearheaded by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Chief Nyesom Wike.
Unlike in other states, no person of note, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has unfolded any governorship aspiration.
The camp of Wike controls the structures of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
A source said the minister had intensified consultations on his preferred candidate and would soon unveil his identity to members of the coalition.
There were, however, speculations that the Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, may become the consensus candidate for the Coalition.
Others also claimed that the Executive Director, Project, Southsouth Development Commission, Marcus Eji, could be the chosen one.
Chinda has been representing Wike’s Obio-Akpor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives since 2011.
He became popular when he was the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Account.
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It was gathered that Wike might have settled for Chinda because he had shown signs that he would not betray the minister’s rainbow coalition and political family.
Chinda has been faithful and loyal to the camp during the political crisis that rocked the state
Eji, who hails from Eleme Local Government Area, is a former member of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
He has been a follower of Wike, who a year ago, introduced him to Presisent Bola Ahmed Tinubu during a private meeting with the President in Abuja.
Wike’s recent remarks downplayed the role of ethnicity in his choice of his next governorship candidate.
The minister said apart from endorsing the President for re-election, he has not endorsed anybody for any position in 2027.
He also said he would consult the elders in his camp on his choice, adding that even if they object to it, he would convince them to accept him.
Wike said: “Those of you sending people to preach ethnicity, it will not work. I will work with those who are sincere, not minding where the person comes from. I will sit here; some people are parading themselves; putting themselves in groups saying Ijaw group continuity, Ogoni group, Ikwere groups. Continue to group yourself. It is me you are using to group.
“I have not promised anybody anything as it concerns 2027. I have not endorsed anybody for any position, from Senate, Reps, governorship or state assembly. The only person I have declared support for in 2027 is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Don’t allow anybody to deceive you to lose the little you already have.”
It was, however, gathered that after the ongoing consultations, the political platform for the anointed candidate would be selected based on Fubara’s decision.
A source said: “If the governor decides to run based on the choice of first refusal extended to all first term governors in APC, the coalition will ask its chosen candidate to stay in PDP and challenge the governor.
“But if the governor decides not to run, the chosen candidate may be asked to contest on APC platform, especially since the coalition controls both the APC and PDP leadership in the state.
But there were, however, concerns over Fubara’s body language ahead of the election as many people believe he had not shown any sign of seriousness.
Observers wonder why the governor had yet to publicly indicate his interest to seek a second term in office in line with his rights guaranteed by the constitution.
The governor had also not reconstituted his disbanded supporters, who made waves in the state under the ‘Simplified Movement’ during the crisis.
There are fears that even if the governor decided to run with the support of his colleagues in the APC, he might not win because he was not in control of party’s structures in the state.
But a source close to the governor said only Fubara would decide his fate, insisting that the governors in the APC and the national leadership of the APC were willing to give him the ticket.
He said: “It is only the governor that will decide his fate. He has the support of his colleagues and residents of the state. His support in the state can always be rekindled. But we are waiting for his decision”.
If the governor depended on Wike’s endorsement to run for a second term, he would not contest because Wike had foreclosed his support for him.
The minister recently said: “No amount of blackmail, no amount of intimidation will make me to repeat the same mistake I made before. If anybody is bringing money to you, it is your business. I don’t know how long I will have to live on this earth, but I will not make the mistake”.
