Nyesom Wike expands Rivers State coalition and challenges Amaechi

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, is expanding his Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State. The coalition, which includes members from the Action Alliance (AA), All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party (LP), has seen recent additions following Wike’s engagements with ethnic nationalities across the state.

In the Etche area, prominent figures such as former Representative Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, former Omuma chairman Chief Nwuke Anucha, and John Ngubo-Otamiri have rejoined the political fold. Supporters indicate that further defections are expected ahead of the upcoming general elections.

During a town hall meeting in Etche, Wike also confronted former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi regarding the sale of state-owned power plants. Wike questioned the whereabouts of $308 million in proceeds from the sale of gas turbine power stations during Amaechi’s administration, asking, “Where is the money? What did Rivers people get from it?”

Wike’s allegations follow the Justice Omereji Commission of Inquiry, which investigated the transaction. While Amaechi’s legal challenges to the commission were dismissed by the Supreme Court in 2022, the ruling did not constitute a criminal conviction.