The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, have publicly demonstrated their political unity by declaring support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The two leaders made their positions known at a mega rally organised by the Rainbow Coalition at Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Elekahia, Port Harcourt, where candidates of the coalition’s participating political parties were unveiled.
At the event, Wike, who founded the Rainbow Coalition, announced that the group had agreed to mobilise support for Tinubu, regardless of the political parties to which its members belong.
He also declared the coalition’s support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in Rivers State, including its governorship candidate, Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, as well as candidates contesting National Assembly and state House of Assembly seats.
The rally, attended by Fubara and other political leaders, was presented as a show of unity aimed at strengthening the coalition’s political influence in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections.
Wike said the large turnout demonstrated that Rivers State was prepared to support Tinubu’s return to office.
“You have made a statement today for those who may not know that today Rivers State is entirely for Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
The minister also called for an end to political divisions and violence in the state, insisting that the coalition was committed to peace and unity.
“In this dispensation, we will not have again Rivers of blood. In this dispensation, we will not have again killing and crisis among us in Rivers. Rather, what we will have is a united Rivers State and one government,” Wike said.
He explained that the Rainbow Coalition was established to bring together political parties and their supporters behind a common presidential candidate without weakening the identities of the participating parties.
Wike, who described himself as a national leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also challenged the authority of individuals he accused of speaking for unauthorised factions of the party.
He called on PDP members in states including Imo, Gombe, Kwara, Zamfara and Ogun to support Tinubu in the forthcoming election.
Wike Attacks Atiku, Amaechi Over ADC Ticket
The FCT minister used the rally to criticise former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who is the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, the party’s vice-presidential candidate.
Wike questioned the credibility of the ADC ticket, accusing Atiku of changing political positions and challenging Amaechi to explain how his current alliance aligned with his previous positions on power rotation and other national issues.
Referring to the pairing of Atiku and Amaechi, Wike said, “As bad as Atiku’s ticket is, attaching Rotimi as the vice worsened it.”
He also questioned Amaechi’s record as Rivers State governor between 2007 and 2015, citing several projects and financial transactions that he claimed required further explanation.
Among the projects mentioned were a malaria fumigation programme, the proposed Justice Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital, the Port Harcourt monorail project and the sale of the Omoku gas turbine.
Wike alleged that $10 million was spent on the fumigation programme without eliminating malaria in the state.
He further claimed that $39 million was paid for the proposed specialist hospital, which he said was never completed, while raising questions about the reported expenditure of ₦68 billion on the monorail project.
On the Omoku gas turbine, the minister alleged that the facility was sold for $308 million in December 2014 and questioned what happened to the proceeds.
Wike said he established the Justice Omereji Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the transaction. He claimed that Amaechi was indicted by the panel and subsequently lost court challenges to its findings.
However, the allegations were presented as Wike’s claims during the political rally.
“Where is the $308 million? Where is the $39 million? Where is the ₦68 billion? And where is the $10 million for fumigation?” he asked.
The minister urged Rivers residents to reject the ADC presidential ticket and support Tinubu, insisting that the Rainbow Coalition had already settled on its preferred candidate for the 2027 election.
Fubara Reaffirms Alliance With Wike
In his remarks, Governor Fubara declared his commitment to the Rainbow Coalition, describing the gathering as a reunion with his political family.
The governor acknowledged Wike’s role in his emergence as Rivers State governor and expressed gratitude for the support he received during his political journey.
“I am happy to be here and standing in the midst of my family. This is my family because I wouldn’t have been the governor if God did not pass through my oga to make me a governor,” Fubara said.
He reaffirmed his presence at the rally, saying he was there with his soul, body and spirit, and urged coalition members to work together to protect their political interests in the state.
Fubara also dismissed concerns about disagreements over leadership within the group, insisting that the members were now united under one political structure.
“We are now in one house. There is no issue of who is your leader. There is only one leader because we are now in one house,” he said.
The governor subsequently unveiled Chinda as the APC governorship candidate and presented him with the party’s flag. He also unveiled other candidates representing the participating political parties and presented their respective party flags.
Fubara described the occasion as a rare honour and expressed confidence that the candidates would emerge victorious in the 2027 elections.
His appearance alongside Wike marked a public demonstration of reconciliation between the two political leaders, whose differences had previously contributed to a prolonged political crisis in Rivers State.
The governor urged members of the coalition to remain committed to their common objectives and work towards electoral victory.
Chinda Promises Inclusive Government
Speaking on behalf of candidates from the six political parties, Chinda said the coalition was united by its determination to secure Tinubu’s re-election and promote the interests of Rivers residents.
He described the alliance as an important development in the state’s political landscape, saying it represented a departure from the politics of exclusion and winner-takes-all.
“We are gathered to make positive history. We are gathered in one accord and one purpose, and that purpose is to return President Tinubu as the President of the country,” Chinda said.
The APC governorship candidate thanked the coalition’s leaders and supporters, promising to establish an inclusive administration that would prioritise the welfare of Rivers residents if elected.
“When we are elected, we will continue to run a government of inclusivity, a government that will place the interest of Rivers people first. We will all be part of the government because the coalition will not stop after the election,” he said.
Chinda also promised that his administration would pursue development projects across the state and expressed confidence that the coalition would secure victory at the polls.
He thanked Fubara for unveiling the candidates and presenting them with their party flags, describing the gesture as evidence of unity and a shared commitment to their political goals.
The rally ended with renewed declarations of support for Tinubu’s re-election and the APC candidates in Rivers State, as the coalition intensified its preparations for the 2027 general elections.
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