Opposition parties in Rivers State have distanced themselves from the so-called ‘Rainbow Coalition,’ led by Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Wike, during his controversial tour of 22 local government areas in the state, had advertised the coalition as “the only party” in Rivers State, geared towards actualizing the re-election of Bola Tinubu to a second term as President.
The minister said the coalition is an amalgamation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), under the Renewed Hope Family, a feat achieved only in Rivers State.
The state chapters of the ADC and Labour Party, on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, however disagreed with Wike’s statement, rather distancing themselves from such coalition.
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They described Wike’s statement as inconsistent with the facts on ground, and an attempt to diminish the strength of the opposition in the state.
Leader Sampson, chairman of the state chapters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, in a radio interview, pointed out that ADC “is not part of any alliance with the Renewed Hope Family or Rainbow Coalition.
“ADC is the coalition party where we have people like Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, Atiku Abubakar, and most recently His Excellency Gregory Peter Obi have joined the ADC.
“So when you talk about that coalition of Renewed Hope, the ADC is not part of that. The ADC is in the coalition and we are the only party that is a credible alternative to Nigerians that are challenging the retrogressive party called the APC.
“The ADC, we are the only opposition party as of today in Nigeria that has brought hope to Nigerians and Rivers people. So we don’t know anything about Renewed Hope,” he said
Sampson said ADC is the only alternative political party for Rivers State to achieve the political desire of the state.
“Those that feel that they own Rivers, they will understand that the ADC is a political party that the Rivers people have embraced. And we are working strategically. We are not conventional. Our pattern is not the conventional political pattern that we all know, where people come out and make a lot of noise about what they are doing,” he said.
Similarly, the Rivers State chapter of the Action Democratic Party has also denied being part of the Renewed Hope family or any such coalition.
Kendrick Christian, chairman of the ADP in Rivers State, said the party is not part of any coalition and does not subscribe to any umbrella narrative.
“We have heard the funny assertion, both on social media, on electronic media, even on TV recently, that there’s no political party in Rivers States anymore, that what they have is a Rainbow Coalition or what they have is a Renewed Hope family or whatever it is called.
“I’m speaking authoritatively for the Action Democratic Party, a party that I chair in Rivers States. I don’t know for other political parties, but for the ADP, we are not part of it. We’re not part of any, Renewed Hope, whatever. We’re a sole party, independent, and credible alternative for Rivers people to look at,” he said.
Christian noted that ADP is focused solely on giving Rivers people genuine alternative rooted in principle, transparency and service for the common good of the state.
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“There should be a sane platform for sane people to belong to and aspire to serve the people. And that is what the ADP is offering the people. We’re not part of any coalition of whatsoever, any Rainbow whatever, any Renewed group whatever.
“And it is not only laughable, it is also pitiable for what is happening in Rivers State. The FCT minister and the governor of Rivers State, with due respect, owe Rivers people an apology — a public one at that.
“Look at how distracted our state is. Look at how everything is going down by the day. Sadly, this is where we are today. And sadly, so many people have not yet realized the harm that this is causing to our economy, the harm that this is causing to the future of this state,” he said.
