Rivers 2027: Lulu-Briggs Builds Cross-Regional Coalition as Kwankwasiyya Mobilises Northern Community
Rivers 2027: Lulu-Briggs Builds Cross-Regional Coalition as Kwankwasiyya Mobilises Northern Community
By Akin Alade
The political battle for Rivers State Government House in 2027 is taking a new dimension as Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, continues to widen his support base beyond traditional political and ethnic blocs in the state.
The latest boost to his campaign came from the Kwankwasiyya Movement, whose members in Rivers State have thrown their weight behind his governorship ambition and called on the northern community in the state to support him at the polls.
The development could strengthen Lulu-Briggs’ attempt to build a broad-based electoral coalition involving indigenous Rivers communities, non-indigenous residents, grassroots political organisations and supporters of the NDC.
The endorsement came during a political engagement in Port Harcourt involving former Kano State governor and NDC vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, party leaders, candidates and supporters.
Lulu-Briggs received Kwankwaso alongside his running mate, Dr Mike Nwielaghi, members of the NDC state executive and other candidates of the party. Members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, the OK Movement and other political groups were also present.
One of the most significant moments of the gathering came when Kwankwaso specifically appealed to members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and the northern community in Rivers State to support Lulu-Briggs’ governorship bid.
The call potentially opens another important political constituency for the NDC candidate.
Rivers State, particularly Port Harcourt and its commercial centres, accommodates Nigerians from different parts of the country who contribute significantly to its commercial and economic activities.
The emerging Lulu-Briggs strategy appears aimed at bringing some of these communities into a wider political coalition ahead of the election.
Kwankwaso also urged Nigerians not to lose confidence in the country’s ability to overcome its challenges, arguing that progress remains achievable when citizens unite behind purposeful leadership and shared values.
Welcoming Kwankwaso, Lulu-Briggs described the visit as important to the NDC and its expanding political coalition in Rivers State.
He stressed the importance of unity, purposeful leadership and political collaboration in addressing the challenges confronting Rivers State and Nigeria.
The latest endorsement comes as Lulu-Briggs continues to attract support from different political and community organisations, potentially strengthening his position ahead of what promises to be a fiercely contested governorship election.
Rather than depending exclusively on one political bloc, Lulu-Briggs appears to be positioning himself as a candidate capable of attracting support across geographical, ethnic and social boundaries.
His major challenge, however, will be converting endorsements and political declarations into actual votes at ward and polling-unit levels.
The Port Harcourt engagement also highlighted the connection between the NDC’s Rivers campaign and its wider national political strategy.
Kwankwaso used the occasion to mobilise supporters for the “Obi Talks Nigeria: The Port Harcourt TownHall,” bringing the party’s presidential and state political machinery into the same conversation.
The development suggests that the NDC could leverage its nationally recognised political figures and grassroots movements to strengthen candidates contesting elections across the country.
For Lulu-Briggs, Kwankwaso’s direct appeal to his followers and the northern community could provide additional momentum as the Rivers governorship race gathers pace.
The bigger question is whether the expanding coalition can successfully challenge established political structures in Rivers State.
Endorsements alone do not win elections. Strong grassroots organisation, voter mobilisation, polling-unit structures and the ability to present a convincing development agenda will ultimately determine the strength of any governorship candidate.
Nevertheless, recent developments indicate that Lulu-Briggs is attempting to broaden the electoral map rather than confine his campaign to traditional Rivers political calculations.
With the Kwankwasiyya Movement now mobilising behind him, Lulu-Briggs’ 2027 governorship project is increasingly developing from an individual candidacy into an attempt to construct a formidable cross-regional political coalition.
Whether that coalition will be powerful enough to reshape the Rivers governorship contest will ultimately be decided by the people at the ballot box.
