The Peoples Democratic Party-led Rainbow Coalition in Bayelsa State has unveiled plans to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid, with activities scheduled to begin with three days of fasting and prayers in November.
The coalition said it would activate its grassroots structures across the state’s 105 wards to mobilise voters for Tinubu ahead of the presidential election.
The timetable was announced in a statement by Bayelsa PDP Publicity Secretary Ikaebimo Mark on Tuesday.
According to the schedule, the programme will begin with fasting, prayers and a solemn assembly from November 5 to 7, followed by a campaign dedication and thanksgiving service on November 8.
The coalition plans to inaugurate its state campaign council on November 9, commission its campaign secretariat and unveil campaign buses reportedly donated by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The timetable also provides for the distribution of campaign materials, including T-shirts, face caps and banners, across the state’s local government areas between November 10 and 15.
Campaign flag-offs and the presentation of flags to candidates in the three senatorial districts—Bayelsa Central, Bayelsa West and Bayelsa East—are scheduled between November 17 and 21.
The coalition has scheduled its grand finale for December 12, when it plans to formally adopt and endorse Tinubu as its presidential candidate alongside other parties within the alliance.
The activities are planned ahead of the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027.
Turnah calls for APC cooperation
Reacting to the timetable, Bayelsa PDP leader Chief Alabh Turnah expressed confidence that the coalition would mobilise voters across the state for Tinubu’s re-election.
Turnah described the President’s decision to integrate Wike into the presidential campaign structure as a demonstration of confidence in the coalition’s ability to attract support across party lines.
He said the coalition would activate its political structures across the 105 wards and highlight the Tinubu administration’s development agenda during its campaign.
Turnah also pointed to projects undertaken by the Niger Delta Development Commission in Bayelsa as part of the issues the coalition intends to present to voters.
“On our part in Bayelsa, we are going to reciprocate President Bola Tinubu’s confidence by mobilising all our members across the 105 wards in the state to deliver massive votes for his re-election,” he said.
The PDP leader claimed that his party retained the strongest grassroots appeal in the state and expressed confidence that its supporters would back Tinubu under the Rainbow Coalition platform.
Turnah also urged the Bayelsa APC leadership to work with the coalition rather than view it as a political rival.
“We want to appeal again to the APC leadership not to see us as an adversary but as a partner willing to work hand-in-hand to deliver President Bola Tinubu in Bayelsa State,” he said.
He argued that relying solely on the APC’s state structure could limit the President’s support in some communities, insisting that cooperation between both groups would strengthen their mobilisation efforts.
The coalition’s plan represents an attempt by a PDP-led political grouping to support Tinubu’s re-election despite the PDP’s traditional position as an opposition party to the APC at the national level.
Its leaders say their grassroots structures will be central to the effort, although the coalition’s ability to translate its mobilisation plans into votes remains to be tested at the polls.
