Two core allies of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who also belong to the Rainbow Coalition, have been tipped to run for the governorship of the state in the 2027 general elections.
Whereas Alabo Dakorinama George-Kelly has been picked to run on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Hon. Kingsley Chinda will run on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
It was gathered that the duo were advised by the leadership of the Rainbow Coalition to purchase the governorship forms of the parties.
Following the declaration by George-Kelly, stakeholders in Rivers State were thrown into jubilation over the resolve that Wike has settled for George-Kelly to be a governorship aspirant for the primary elections of the APC.
It was gathered that the stakeholders were said to be happy that George-Kelly, who is from the Kalabari Ijaw extraction of the state, has joined the governorship race.
Kelly is a known political son of Wike and a loyal member of the coalition and his choice, if confirmed, would be in alignment with the general sentiment that someone from Ijaw should take over from Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
It would be recalled that George-Kelly contested the PDP’s governorship primary in 2022 and came second after Fubara, and was later appointed the Director-General of Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA) by President Bola Tinubu.
Although at press time there had not been an official confirmation of claims, but a source within the Rainbow Coalition, who preferred anonymity, said George-Kelly had already purchased the nomination and expression of interest forms of the APC for the primary.
The source said: “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.”
