Rivers Labour Party Says It’s Not Joining Rainbow Coalition, Reuben

The former National Vice Chairman of the Labour Party in the South-South, Favour Reuben, talked with DARE AKOGUN about what the opposition is doing for the 2027 elections and the Rainbow Coalition led by former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike.

Opposition parties and political groups are trying to form a coalition for the 2027 elections. Do you think they are ready?

From what I see, they are not well-organised yet. Politics is not won by just talking in Abuja or being active on social media. You need to build structures from the polling unit to the ward, local government, and state levels. To challenge a political structure that has been around for years, you must build your own.

What do you think the opposition is doing wrong?

The main issue is that many focus too much on Abuja. You hear people making statements in Abuja, attacking others and talking about coalitions, but when you look at local government and ward levels, the same energy is missing. Politics is about numbers and organisation. You need people who care about the party in every ward and polling unit. Without that structure, you may have a popular candidate but still struggle in an election.

Are you saying the proposed coalition cannot challenge the APC in 2027?

I am saying that a coalition alone does not guarantee success. The parties need to combine their structures and agree on how they will work together. They should decide on their leadership, candidates, message, and how to mobilise voters. If they come together late, there could be confusion among supporters about what the coalition stands for. So, it is not just about coming together. The real question is: what structure are you bringing?

The opposition should already be building at the wards, local governments, and communities. They need to identify their supporters and understand the issues affecting the people. They must also start political education and mobilising efforts. You cannot challenge someone who has built a political structure for years while spending most of your time on social media.

To win an election, you must be active on the ground. The 2023 experience showed what good grassroots mobilisation can achieve. Different groups were working together. People moved from one state to another, from one local government to another, and engaged directly with voters.

The African Democratic Congress, Nigeria Democratic Congress, Allied Peoples Movement, and others must show what they have on the ground. I am not saying they can’t build it, but they must show seriousness by establishing structures in states, local governments, wards, and polling units.

They need people who are ready to work. You cannot challenge a strong political structure by just attacking the people in government. You must show the voters what you offer.

But some opposition leaders say their candidates' popularity can make up for weak structures.

Popularity matters, but it is not everything. A candidate can be popular on TV and social media, but elections are held at polling units. Who is there to mobilise voters? Who knows the people in the communities? Who is watching the process? Who is explaining the party’s message? Those are organisational questions. That is why I keep saying opposition parties need to move beyond social media.

Do you think the opposition is too focused on attacking President Bola Tinubu?

There is nothing wrong with criticising a government. That is part of democracy. But opposition politics should be more than just criticism. You should tell Nigerians what you will do differently. If you talk about unemployment, explain how you will create jobs. If you mention insecurity, share your strategy. If you discuss the economy, tell Nigerians what policies you will implement. The opposition needs a clear message that people can grasp.

What is the role of political parties in the proposed coalition?

Political parties should not be seen as tools to be used only during elections. They have structures, members, and interests. If you want a coalition, you must sit down with the parties and agree on the terms. That is one reason I am concerned about the Labour Party’s supposed involvement in the coalition.

As for the Labour Party structure I represent in Rivers State, nobody consulted us. You cannot build a coalition by simply announcing that a party is part of it.

Does that mean the Labour Party is not part of the coalition from your faction’s view?

The Labour Party has never been part of the Rainbow Coalition from the start, as far as our structure in Rivers State is concerned. Nobody consulted us. No meetings were held with us, and nobody approached us to discuss the coalition. If you want us in a coalition, you must sit and talk with us. You must discuss what our stake will be, who the candidates are, and what we will tell our members.

You cannot just announce that the Labour Party is in a coalition when nobody consulted the party structure. For now, the Labour Party structure I represent in Rivers State is not in the coalition.

Some people are claiming to be Labour Party representatives in the coalition. Who are they?

Some of those people came from a labour union background. They are not necessarily people who built or understand the Labour Party’s political structure. After the 2023 election, we had a crisis with some unionists, creating factions within the party. My concern is that the political party and the labour union are different. A political party has its own constitution, processes, and structures. That is why we say if anyone wants the Labour Party in a coalition, the real party structure must be consulted.

Are your issues with the Rainbow Coalition linked to your relationship with Wike?

That is not true. I have supported Wike politically for a long time. Anyone who knows me knows that. But supporting someone does not mean I will give up the structure I built. I have never worked for Governor Siminalayi Fubara. So, anyone saying I am part of a Fubara group or that I am working for Fubara should show proof.

Wike is someone I respect politically. I have said before that he is one of the politicians whose consistency and organisation I admire. I also respect President Bola Tinubu’s political skills. These are politicians who have shown political organisation over the years.

But admiration does not mean I will let anyone destroy the structure I built. My disagreement with Wike is that if he wants to work with the Labour Party, he should talk to those who built the structure. He has always said nobody should tamper with his political structure. So, why should anybody come and tamper with the structure we built in the Labour Party?

If we agree to work together, we will. If we do not agree, we will make our own decision. But there must be consultation.

Will you join the coalition if your group is consulted?

If we are consulted, we will sit down and discuss it. I am not against coalition politics. Given Nigeria’s situation, there may be times when political parties need to unite for a common purpose. But you cannot build a coalition by ignoring the people whose structures you want to use. We have candidates and members across the state. We have people who worked for the Labour Party with their own resources in 2023. You cannot just wake up one morning and tell them they are now part of something they know nothing about.

Your South-South Democratic Movement says it will support candidates across party lines. Why?

We focus on candidates, not party names. If we see a candidate in the APC with the qualities we want, we can support that candidate. If we find another candidate in the NDC or ADC, we can consider that candidate too.

We do not believe one party has all the good candidates. Our job is to look at what candidates offer and what they have done. We are building our structure and watching political developments; we are starting from the grassroots. In Ogoni, for example, we have coordinators in the wards and representatives at the unit level. The goal is to have people who know their communities and can mobilise them when needed. That is what I mean by structure; you cannot build a political movement from Abuja alone.

Nigerians should look beyond political parties and focus on the candidates and what they offer. They should take part in the electoral process and protect their votes legally.

For us, we will not support a candidate just because of their party. We will look at the candidates and let our position be known when the time comes. The key is that Nigerians should participate. They should vote and ensure the process is monitored properly. Democracy cannot work if citizens stay away from elections and leave decisions to a few people.