Two key allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, both members of the Rainbow Coalition, are being positioned for the 2027 governorship race in Rivers State.
While Alabo Dakorinama George-Kelly is expected to contest on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kingsley Chinda is said to be preparing to run under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Sources indicate that both men were advised by the Rainbow Coalition leadership to obtain their respective party’s governorship nomination forms.
Following reports of George-Kelly’s move, political stakeholders across the state reportedly reacted with excitement, amid indications that Wike may have settled for him as a preferred aspirant ahead of the APC primaries.
The development is said to have been well received, particularly as George-Kelly hails from the Kalabari Ijaw axis of the state, a factor many believe strengthens his appeal in the current political climate.
A known loyalist of Wike and prominent member of the coalition, George-Kelly’s emergence is viewed by some as aligning with growing calls for power rotation, especially the argument that an Ijaw candidate should succeed Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
George-Kelly previously contested the PDP governorship primary in 2022, where he finished second behind Fubara. He was later appointed Director-General of the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) by President Bola Tinubu.
Although there has been no official confirmation of his candidacy, a source within the Rainbow Coalition, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that George-Kelly has already secured the APC nomination and expression of interest forms.
“Among all the coalition members, George-Kelly is the only one that has purchased the APC forms and we know that he would not have done so without the consent of the Minister.
“This is a sign that he has the blessings of the coalition leader and will eventually emerge as the candidate of the APC for the election,” the source said.
The source added that the situation has taken a strategic turn, especially following earlier reports linking Chinda to the race.
“This is where this game gets interesting. The leader of the coalition is a political sage and master strategist. When the report of Chinda emerged, he weighed the reaction of members of the public.
“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.
“But immediately the report of George-Kelly on APC platform broke out, there was jubilation 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. We believe that Wike is receiving reports about the duo and analysing their personalities.
“One thing is clear. The objective is to present a loyal candidate that will appeal to all stakeholders including those who are standing with Governor Fubara. But George-Kelly despite hailing from the riverine Ijaw area of the state, seems to have the expected mass appeal. It is not about ethnicity, it is more about personality.
“We know that the leader of the coalition knows what he is doing. One thing is sure, the coalition will produce the candidates for the APC and the PDP in the state and the leader will engage in consultations to select one of them.”