Two close allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, have emerged as potential contenders for the Rivers State governorship in the 2027 general elections, as political permutations intensify ahead of the poll.
The two politicians, Alabo Dakorinama George-Kelly and Kingsley Chinda, are said to be members of the Rainbow Coalition, a political bloc loyal to Wike.
Sources within the coalition disclosed that George-Kelly has been pencilled down to contest on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, while Chinda is being considered to fly the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party.
It was gathered that the leadership of the coalition advised both men to obtain governorship nomination forms of their respective parties as part of preparations for the 2027 race.
George-Kelly’s reported entry into the contest has reportedly sparked excitement among political stakeholders across Rivers, with many interpreting the development as an indication that Wike may have settled for him as a preferred aspirant ahead of the APC primary.
The development was said to have been particularly welcomed by stakeholders who view George-Kelly, an indigene of the Kalabari Ijaw extraction, as a strong contender whose emergence aligns with growing sentiments that an Ijaw politician should succeed Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
George-Kelly, a known political associate of Wike, previously contested the PDP governorship primary in 2022, finishing second behind Fubara. He was later appointed Director-General of the Border Communities Development Agency by President Bola Tinubu.
Although there was no official confirmation of the development as of press time, a source within the Rainbow Coalition, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed that George-Kelly had already obtained the APC governorship form.
The source added that Chinda, who currently serves as Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, also remains under active consideration.
According to the source, the coalition is carefully assessing public reactions and the political strengths of both aspirants as it works towards presenting a candidate capable of attracting broad support across the state ahead of the 2027 elections.
