By Gloria Ikibah
The Rivers State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the 2027 general election, Rep Ogundu Kingsley Chinda, has pledged to govern the state with the fear of God if elected during the 2027 guber polls. 
Chinda made the pledge on Tuesday at the unveiling of candidates under the Rainbow Coalition at the Yakubu Gowon Township Stadium, Elekahia, Port Harcourt, where thousands of party supporters and political stakeholders gathered to rally support for the coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
The APC candidate, who appeared in a white outfit accented with blue and adorned with the party’s emblem and campaign insignia, said the coalition would work collectively to secure victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, himself and other candidates contesting various elective positions under the alliance.
He said the objective was to form a government of unity that would prioritise peace, development and inclusiveness, while rejecting political rancour, division and what he described as “zero-sum entitlement.”
Chinda also praised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for spearheading the Rainbow Coalition, describing the initiative as a political arrangement that brings together structures from about seven political parties to pursue a common electoral objective.
According to him, the coalition represents an opportunity to unite political interests across party lines and restore cohesion in Rivers State.
He stressed that peace and unity were essential prerequisites for meaningful development, arguing that the state could not achieve its full potential without political stability and collective purpose.
Earlier, speakers at the event highlighted what they described as benefits Rivers State had received from the Tinubu administration, including federal appointments for Rivers indigenes, the establishment of the Federal University of Environment and Technology, and the completion of the long-delayed Bonny-Bodo Road.
They said the road project, which had remained stalled since 2005, had now provided road access to Bonny, describing it as one of the notable interventions of the Federal Government in the state.
The event also received a major boost when Governor Siminalayi Fubara appeared at the venue to hand over flags to coalition candidates and publicly endorse their candidacies.
Fubara’s appearance further energised the crowd, with the governor declaring that Rivers State had only one political leader, Wike, and urging supporters to maintain unity ahead of the 2027 elections.
Wike, who was the major attraction at the event, also addressed the mammoth gathering and urged Rivers voters to support Tinubu for another term, Chinda for governor and all candidates fielded under the Rainbow Coalition.
The FCT minister, who entertained supporters with his characteristic dance moves during musical interludes, described the coalition as a platform for political cooperation and electoral victory.
Wike also called on members and candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party nationwide to support Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, despite the PDP’s opposition status at the national level.
The Rainbow Coalition is emerging as a major political alliance in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections, bringing together politicians and candidates from different parties in support of Tinubu, Chinda and other coalition candidates.
The alliance is expected to test the strength of the political structure being built by Wike and his allies as the state heads towards another closely watched governorship contest.
