A congratulatory letter addressed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, by some members of the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State has triggered reactions, with critics questioning why the minister was being congratulated over party primaries in which he did not formally participate as a candidate.
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The letter, dated May 26, 2026, was addressed to Wike and signed by several political figures, including Prof. Z. Adangor, SAN; Chief Hon. Emeka Woke; Alabo Dr George Kelly; Hon. Mrs Inime Aguma; Hon. Isaac Kamalu; Prof. Prince Chinedu Mmom; Dr Gift Worlu; Hon. Dr Jacobson Nbina; and Hon. Austen Ben-Chioma.
In the letter, the signatories congratulated Wike on what they described as the successful conclusion of the primaries of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
They also congratulated him on the emergence of candidates reportedly produced under the Rainbow Coalition, including President Bola Tinubu as the APC presidential candidate, Senator Sandy Onor as the PDP presidential candidate, and Hon. O. K. Chinda, Dr Sam Ejiekwu, Hon. Ben Eke and Hon. Chima Boms as governorship candidates of the APC, PDP, Action Alliance and Labour Party respectively in Rivers State.
The group further assured Wike of their “unflinching support” for all candidates of the Rainbow Coalition in the forthcoming general elections.
However, the letter has generated public debate, with some commentators asking why Wike, who did not contest in the primaries and is not officially the chairman of the APC, PDP, LP or AA, was being treated as the central figure behind the outcome of the exercises.
Some critics said the letter appears to confirm Wike’s strong influence across multiple political parties in Rivers State, despite his official position as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and his known membership of the PDP.
Others argued that the letter strengthens concerns that the Rainbow Coalition has blurred party lines in Rivers politics, with candidates from different political platforms appearing to owe political allegiance to one dominant figure.
One commentator asked why the signatories congratulated Wike rather than the leadership of the political parties that conducted the primaries.
Another described the development as a troubling sign of political control across party structures, saying it raises questions about internal democracy and the independence of the parties involved.
There were also reactions to the language and presentation of the letter. One critic questioned the use of “His Excellency” in the body of the letter, arguing that “Your Excellency” would have been more appropriate in direct correspondence.
“Imagine! They cannot even write a letter that can pass WAEC O’level scrutiny. Why should educated people not know that ‘His Excellency’ is wrong and it should have been ‘Your Excellency’? ‘His Excellency’ is what should be on the envelope, while ‘Your Excellency’ should begin the letter inside,” the critic said.
Beyond the grammar concerns, another commentator raised an ethnic issue, alleging that the candidates of the four political parties named in the letter were from the same ethnic extraction.
The commentator described the situation as an “absurdity never seen before in the politics of Rivers State,” adding that past political leaders in the state would have opposed any arrangement perceived as promoting ethnic dominance.
“This is like a gene mutation that has gone rogue and polycephalic,” the commentator added.
The controversy comes days after Wike publicly stated that the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers State had not yet chosen a single governorship candidate for the 2027 elections.
Wike had said the coalition, comprising the PDP, APC, LP and AA, would jointly decide on one candidate at the appropriate time, while insisting that the only decision already taken by the group was to support President Tinubu.
The latest letter has now added a fresh dimension to the debate, as critics insist that congratulating Wike over the outcome of different party primaries raises legitimate questions about his role in the candidate selection process across party lines.
Supporters of the coalition, however, may interpret the letter as a recognition of Wike’s political leadership and influence in Rivers State, rather than proof of direct interference in the internal affairs of the parties.
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