Politics
Wike’s Rainbow Coalition Unveils Candidates for Rivers Governor, Dep., National, State Assembly Elections
By Joseph Sunday
The pro-Nyesom Wike political bloc in Rivers State, the Rainbow Coalition, has unveiled its candidates for the Rivers governorship, deputy governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections, with a power-sharing arrangement between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
A list sighted on Tuesday shows both parties fielding candidates under the coalition’s umbrella, with Rt. Hon. Ogundu Kingsley Chinda of the APC as its governorship candidate and Hon. (Engr.) Major Jack, also of the APC, as his running mate.
Senate:
For the Senate, the coalition nominated three candidates:
• Rivers West: Bro. Felix Amaechi Obua (APC) • Rivers East: Senator Onyesom Allwell Iheacho (APC) • Rivers South-East: Senator Olaka Johnson Nwogu (PDP)
House of Representatives:
The coalition is fielding 13 candidates for the House of Representatives, with 10 contesting on the APC platform and three on the PDP platform.
APC candidates include former Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule for Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency; Hon. Dumnamene R. Dekor for Khana/Gokana; Hon. Bob Solomon for Abua-Odual/Ahoada East; Hon. Victor C. Obuzor for Ahoada West/Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni; and Hon. Linda Somiari-Stewart for Okrika/Ogu-Bolo, among others.
PDP candidates for the House are Kelechi G. Nwogu for Etche/Omuma; Arthur O. Uchendu for Ikwerre/Emohua; and Achinike Okogbule-Wonodi for Port Harcourt I Federal Constituency.
State House of Assembly:
For the State House of Assembly, the coalition released a list of 32 candidates. The APC has 22 candidates while the PDP has 10.
Notable names on the list include Dominic I. John for Abua/Odual (PDP); Hon. Lolo I. Opuende for Akuku-Toru II (APC); Tekenari W. Granville for Asari-Toru I (APC); Enemi Alabo George for Asari-Toru II (APC); Soporagha S. Jumbo for Bonny (APC); Hon. Aforji Igwe-Obey for Eleme (APC); Hon. Dumle Maol for Gokana (APC); and Hon. Gerald C. Oforji for Port Harcourt I (APC).
The list confirms the continued alliance between APC and PDP loyalists of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, ahead of the next general elections in Rivers State.