Confusion has trailed reports that 15 political parties in Bayelsa State have joined the “Rainbow Coalition” associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, following a denial by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) that the parties endorsed or signed any agreement to join the coalition.
The controversy followed reports that 15 political parties attended a dinner hosted by the Bayelsa State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), George Turnah, where the parties were said to have signed up for the Rainbow Coalition.
The reports further indicated that the state chairmen of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) emerged as chairman, secretary and spokesperson of the coalition’s steering committee.
It was also reported that Turnah was adopted as the Bayelsa State leader of the Rainbow Coalition.
However, the Bayelsa State chapter of IPAC has rejected the reports, insisting that no decision was taken at the dinner to commit any political party to the coalition.
In a statement, the IPAC Chairman, Hon. Simeon Imomotimi Karioru, and Publicity Secretary, Hon. Tari Edwin, described the reports as misleading and a misrepresentation of the circumstances surrounding the gathering.
The IPAC officials explained that Turnah, following the recognition of his faction and candidates by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), invited chairmen of political parties to a dinner and subsequently requested to be added to the IPAC WhatsApp platform in recognition of his position as PDP state chairman.
According to them, Turnah’s admission into the platform was purely administrative and had no political implication or connection with any coalition.
They stressed that the political parties represented at the dinner attended as guests and did not sign any agreement, resolution or document committing their respective parties to the purported Rainbow Coalition.
IPAC further clarified that it is an umbrella platform for dialogue and engagement among political parties and does not possess the authority to commit member parties to a political alliance.
The council said any decision by a political party to join or endorse a coalition must be taken by the appropriate organs of the party, particularly its national leadership, and cannot be determined by IPAC or individual state party chairmen.
Karioru and Edwin therefore urged members of the public and the media to disregard reports suggesting that political parties in Bayelsa State had collectively endorsed or joined Wike’s Rainbow Coalition.
They reaffirmed IPAC’s commitment to promoting dialogue, peaceful political engagement and cooperation among political parties in the state.
The development has consequently left the status of the alleged Rainbow Coalition in Bayelsa unclear, with claims of a 15-party alignment now directly contradicted by the state leadership of IPAC.
About Author
