Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has asked his supporters to stop referring to him as their leader, declaring that following his reconciliation with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, he is now a member of the Rainbow Coalition, with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory as its leader.

The Rainbow Coalition is a political platform initiated by Wike to bring together members of different political parties to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

Fubara said he was aware that those who stood by him during the political crisis in the state still referred to him as their leader, particularly during meetings, but insisted that the disagreement between him and Wike was over.

He said he had returned to his political family and submitted himself to Wike’s leadership despite being the sitting governor.

The governor spoke on Tuesday at the unveiling of the Rainbow Coalition candidates for the 2027 elections in Rivers State at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt.

The rift between Wike and his successor erupted in October 2023, barely six months after Fubara assumed office. Wike, who backed Fubara’s emergence as governor, fell out with him over control of the state’s political structures and the influence of the former governor’s loyalists in the House of Assembly.

The dispute escalated into moves to impeach Fubara, a split in the Assembly and legal battles over control of the state. A peace deal brokered by Tinubu in December 2023 failed to resolve the differences, which deepened over budgetary matters, local government elections and political appointments.

On March 18, 2025, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Fubara, his deputy and the lawmakers for six months. Fubara returned to office in September 2025, but tensions persisted. Amid the political dispute, Fubara was prevented from seeking a second term.

The latest reconciliation signals an effort by the two political leaders to put the crisis behind them and present a united front ahead of the 2027 elections.

‘Wike our leader’

Addressing coalition members, Fubara repeatedly referred to Wike as “my oga”, saying he would not have become governor without the FCT minister’s support.

He said, “Let me say something here so that it will always help us while we move forward. I’m aware there are some issues where some persons who followed me when we had the crisis, when you’re at your meeting, you say, ‘My leader, my leader.’

“We are now in one house. And because we have one house, there is no issue about who is the leader. I might be your oga (governor), but we have a common leader now. So, please, going forward, this issue of my leader, my leader, my leader, I want it resolved here and now.”

While handing over flags to the coalition’s candidates, Fubara again acknowledged Wike’s leadership.

“Having taken care of that, let me continue. Your Excellency, my oga (referring to Wike), the leader of the Rainbow Coalition. Let me borrow the language of the PDP man. He said our G.O. You’re the G.O of Rainbow Coalition,” he said.

Expressing delight over the reconciliation, Fubara said his political family was back together for what he described as a good cause. He pledged to work for Tinubu’s re-election and the victory of all Rainbow Coalition candidates in Rivers State in the 2027 elections.

He said, “I’m really happy to be here. Not just being here, but standing in the midst of my family. This is my family because I wouldn’t have been the governor of Rivers State if God Almighty had not passed through my oga and other leaders to make it possible in our dear state.

“So, no matter what has happened, I’m very grateful today that one way or the other we are back together for a better cause and for the good of our dear state. I want to say that I’m here with all my heart, my soul and my body, and I will do everything within my power to ensure that we have victory not just for Mr President, who has stood by me in my most difficult time, but also to ensure that this power remains in our own bloc. That it (power) doesn’t go to any other place apart from where it is still standing, which is under the leadership of His Excellency Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.”

Fubara described it as a rare honour to unveil the coalition’s candidates, expressing confidence in their prospects in the January 2027 elections.

He said he would personally unveil the coalition’s principal candidate, while asking another official to assist in announcing the other candidates as he handed over their flags.

‘Coalition for Tinubu’

In his remarks, Wike said the coalition was not intended to create political crises but to unite members of different parties in support of Tinubu’s re-election.

“I have said it, and let me reiterate that the Rainbow Coalition means no harm but to bring people of all the various political parties together to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.

The minister warned against handing over power to those he described as “political gamblers” in 2027.

Wike, who is the national leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, also directed PDP members across the states to support Tinubu’s re-election.

In a veiled reference to former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Wike alleged financial misconduct during his administration, arguing that Nigerians could not entrust power to Amaechi and the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

However, Amaechi has not been formally charged with any crime in connection with his tenure as governor.

Wike criticised Amaechi for opposing former President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid while supporting the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Let us tell ourselves the truth. In Rivers State, is there any other party existing? I’m aware some people may have gathered themselves to make sure they organise some people to go to nightclubs.

“There is nothing wrong with that. I’m aware some people may have put themselves together for the sake of it, but it may not be proper for all of us to be in one political party. Let them go and see if they can get something from the other side.

“That does not mean that such parties exist in Rivers State. We are talking about ADC. Who wants to run as President under ADC? Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. Do you know him? I pray you never know him.

“I ran together with him in the 2022 Presidential primaries. In 2019 I was one of the biggest sponsors for that Presidential election,” he said.

Wike accused Atiku of inconsistency, saying he frequently changed his position.

“He (Atiku) is not a man who can go to the bank with his words. He tells you one thing in the morning, he tells you another thing in the afternoon. He tells you something in the evening; the next morning he tells you a different thing. Is he the man you will follow?” he asked.

The minister recalled that Amaechi had opposed Jonathan’s re-election on the grounds that it would violate the unwritten power-sharing arrangement between the North and the South.

“Senator Magnus Abe has said here that a one-time governor of Rivers State said that we must obey the conventional agreement between the South and the North, and therefore if the President, then, Dr Goodluck Jonathan runs, it means that we are violating the unwritten agreement between the South and the North.

“He (Amaechi) was happy that history will remember him for having led the campaign that removed a sitting President.

“Two, that he made sure the unwritten agreement between the North and the South stood firm. Now Magnus has asked you a question: what has now happened? Are you not going to stand for the same principle?

“We are not surprised, knowing your record. You will say one thing today and another thing tomorrow. No wonder you’re the Vice Presidential candidate to the same Presidential candidate who says one thing in the morning and says another in the afternoon,” Wike said.

Calling for support for Tinubu, the minister said the Rainbow Coalition had resolved to back the President’s re-election bid, irrespective of party affiliation. He also urged members to support the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, and other APC candidates for the National and state assemblies.

Wike also insisted that there was no faction in the PDP, claiming that the Independent National Electoral Commission had recognised Abdulrahman Mohammed as the party’s national chairman.

He directed PDP members across the states to support Tinubu’s re-election.

“So, every PDP member in Imo State, Kwara, Gombe, Zamfara, Ogun and every PDP member in every other state must support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“What this means is that as the national leader of the Peoples Democratic Party and with the support of the National Working Committee, we have agreed that every PDP member in all those states should and must support Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.

Wike commended Fubara for unveiling the Rainbow Coalition candidates and reaffirmed that the governor was a member of the platform.

He also announced that Tinubu would visit Port Harcourt on November 7 for a presidential campaign rally at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.

“Let me inform you that Mr President will be coming on the 7th of November to flag off the Presidential rally. We expect us to be three times more than this. And we are going to have him at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium,” Wike said.

In his acceptance speech, the coalition’s governorship candidate, Chinda, promised to run an inclusive government that would accommodate people across political parties, religions and ethnic groups.

“We are no longer divided in Rivers State. No more winners are taking it all in Rivers politics. Our number one candidate in the Rainbow Coalition is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.

Uzodimma on coalition

Meanwhile, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has ruled out the Rainbow Coalition’s presence in the state, declaring his support for the APC and assuring Tinubu of substantial votes in the 2027 elections.

Uzodimma spoke on Tuesday in Owerri during the distribution of campaign vehicles by the PBAT Door-to-door Movement. He urged members to use the vehicles judiciously.

He said, “The All Progressives Congress, APC, is the only party that we can trust. Vote APC in the House of Assembly, APC for governor, APC for House of Representatives, Senate, crown it with APC for the Presidency.

“We have no other party; we will win our election in Imo State, and the votes that will come from Imo State are organic, and these are votes that the owners have decided to vote because they have seen the performance of the president.

“Seek first the kingdom of God and other things shall be added unto you. So, I want to thank you, High Chief and the coordinators of PBAT Movement.

“The Door-to-door officers and coordinators, listen to me: you are members of the APC; you are here to work for President Tinubu and the APC; there is no Rainbow Coalition in Imo State.”