OPPOSITION POLITICAL PARTIES IN BAYELSA STATE COLLAPSE STRUCTURE INTO WIKE'S RAINBOW COALITION

....SDP, APGA AND NNPP STATE CHAIRMEN EMERGE STEERING COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, SECRETARY AND SPOKESPERSON RESPECTIVELY

......PDP'S STATE CHAIRMAN GEORGE TURNAH ADOPTED BAYELSA STATE LEADER OF THE RAINBOW COALITION

........IPAC FORMERLY ADMITS TURNAH INTO FORUM AS PDP'S BAYELSA STATE CHAIRMAN

Yenagoa, Bayelsa - fewer than 15 political parties in Bayelsa State have formally signed onto the Rainbow Coalition, a broad-based political platform inspired by the coalition initiative associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, His Excellency Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, with participating parties pledging to work together in the interest of peace, stability, good governance and the people of Bayelsa State.

The development which occurred when the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Bayelsa State Hon. George Turnah Esq.(MON) hosted Chairmen of opposition Parties in the State to a special dinner at his Yenagoa residence on Saturday 15th August 2026, marks a significant expansion of the coalition in the State, bringing together political parties and stakeholders with a shared commitment to promoting constructive political engagement, peaceful democratic competition and a people-centred political future.

As part of the new structure, the Bayelsa State Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Hon. Allen Amadein, emerged Chairman of the Steering Committee, while the Bayelsa State Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Hon. Brisibe Henry Kpodoh, emerged Secretary. The Bayelsa State Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr. Joel Nathan Tubonim, was also chosen as Spokesperson of the coalition.

In a significant show of confidence and recognition of the PDP’s strength and organisational standing in Bayelsa, the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Hon. Chief Alabh George Turnah, MON, Esq., was adopted as the Bayelsa State Leader of the Rainbow Coalition.

The move has further reaffirmed the growing recognition of Turnah’s leadership and the strategic importance of the PDP within the emerging coalition framework in the State.

Meanwhile, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Bayelsa State, has formally admitted Turnah into its forum in his capacity as Chairman of the PDP in the State, further strengthening his participation in broader inter-party engagements and democratic consultations.

Other political parties and their respective chairmen that formally signed up for the Bayelsa State chapter of the Rainbow Coalition, under the leadership of the Bayelsa State PDP Chairman, Hon. Chief Alabh George Turnah, MON, Esq., include the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Simeon Imomotimi; Action Peoples Party (APP), Prince Oniekpe; Action Democratic Party (ADP), Tare Edwin; BOOT Party, Victor Ben; National Rescue Movement (NRM), Micah Akeem; Action Alliance (AA), Pius Omulala; Labour Party (LP), Zuonaki Ongodiebi; Youth Party (YP), Alfred Nabai; National Democratic Party (NDP), Indoru Albert; Young Progressives Party (YPP), Awini Garenikime; and Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Alex Peretu.

Their participation brings together a broad spectrum of political platforms under the coalition, indicative of a growing commitment to collaborative engagement and a common pursuit of good governance, peace, development and the collective interests of Bayelsans.

The Rainbow Coalition is expected to provide a platform for dialogue, collaboration and coordinated engagement among participating political parties, while allowing each constituent party to retain its identity, structures and internal democratic processes.

The coalition's emergence in Bayelsa is a significant development in the State's political landscape, particularly as political parties and stakeholders begin positioning themselves ahead of the forthcoming 2027 electioneering seasons.

Turnah had earlier hinted at the emergence and inauguration of the Rainbow Coalition in Bayelsa State, describing it as a broad-based alliance of political parties and like-minded stakeholders coming together to wrestle for good governance, peace, development and the wellbeing of Bayelsans.

He made the disclosure while speaking with journalists at the Port Harcourt International Airport shortly after his arrival from Abuja, where he explained that the coalition was designed by the National Leader of the PDP and FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike to promote friendly and peaceful political engagement, reduce the rancour often associated with elections and ultimately unite forces around the common interest of the people.