Paraíba Governor Lucas Ribeiro Gains Support from Milanez Neto After Break with Senator Veneziano

Lucas Ribeiro Milanez Neto Veneziano Vital do Rêgo 2026 Paraíba election Senate candidates

On July 30, 2026, João Pessoa councilman Milanez Neto (MDB) publicly ended his political alliance with state party president and senator Veneziano Vital do Rêgo (MDB). In the same event, Neto announced his backing of Governor Lucas Ribeiro’s (Progressistas) re‑election bid and pledged to vote for the governing coalition’s Senate candidates João Azevêdo (PSB) and Nabor Wanderley (Republicanos).

The split follows months of tension between Milanez and the MDB leadership over the inclusion of Cícero Lucena (MDB) as the party’s pre‑candidate for governor. Milanez’s shift consolidates the governor’s alliance ahead of the 2026 state elections. Meanwhile, Senator Veneziano named Janine Lucena, former executive secretary of Health in João Pessoa and daughter of Cícero Lucena, as his first substitute on the Senate ticket, reinforcing the MDB’s ties to the Lucena family.

Both announcements were made at public gatherings in João Pessoa, the capital of Paraíba, and signal a realignment of political forces within the state ahead of the upcoming elections.

Entities: Cícero Lucena · João Azevêdo · Lucas Ribeiro · Manoel Ludgério · Milanez Neto · Nabor Wanderley · Veneziano Vital do Rêgo

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 3 SOURCES] Milanez Neto said he will vote for Senate candidates João Azevêdo (PSB) and Nabor Wanderley (Republicanos). (Stated in his announcement of support for the governing coalition.)
[● 3 SOURCES] All announcements took place in João Pessoa, the capital of Paraíba. (Location noted in each article.)
[● 2 SOURCES] Janine Lucena is the daughter of Cícero Lucena and former executive secretary of Health of João Pessoa. (Background information provided in the announcements.)
[● 4 SOURCES] Milanez Neto (MDB) officially broke political ties with Senator Veneziano Vital do Rêgo (MDB) on July 30, 2026. (Milanez Neto announced the split at a public event in João Pessoa.)
[● 2 SOURCES] Senator Veneziano Vital do Rêgo announced Janine Lucena as his first substitute on his Senate ticket. (Announcement made at the MDB state headquarters in João Pessoa.)
[● 3 SOURCES] Milanez Neto pledged support for Governor Lucas Ribeiro’s re‑election campaign. (Milanez declared his backing during the same event.)
[● 2 SOURCES] Milanez Neto previously opposed Cícero Lucena’s candidacy within the MDB. (Cited as part of the background to his break with the party leadership.)
[● 2 SOURCES] The MDB’s state project in Paraíba includes Cícero Lucena as its pre‑candidate for governor. (Mentioned in articles describing the party’s internal dynamics.)