Isaac Samuel
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Wednesday declared his support for the Wike-led Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections, endorsing President Bola Tinubu for a second term and throwing his weight behind Kingsley Chinda as his preferred governorship candidate in Rivers State.
Fubara made the declaration during the groundbreaking and foundation-laying ceremony of the Rivien Medical Industry project in Rumuosi, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
In remarks captured in a video circulated on social media, the governor said he had reconciled with his political family and urged his supporters to align with the Rainbow Coalition, a political alliance led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
“We have made peace in the state. And I am supporting our rainbow party, or rainbow coalition,” Fubara said.
He also declared his support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid, saying: “President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is our president, and he’s the one we are supporting.”
The governor further endorsed Kingsley Chinda as his preferred governorship candidate, urging his loyalists to back all candidates presented by the coalition.
“Oke Chinda is the governorship candidate that I am supporting. And anybody who believes in me will support every candidate that is under the rainbow,” he stated.
Fubara appealed to his supporters to embrace the coalition without expecting political appointments or other benefits, stressing that he had already reunited with Wike’s political camp.
“For those of you who are saying, ‘Fubara, let’s stay, we want to collect something before we run,’ there is nothing to collect.
“I am already in the family. I’ve gone back to our family. So please, wherever you are, give your total support to that coalition,” he said.
Calling for an end to political hostilities in the state, the governor said the reconciliation process had opened a new chapter for Rivers.
“We need to move forward. The time of war is over; it’s time of peace. And this peace is taking us to another level. What you lose here, you’ll gain in another place. That is about life,” he added.
Fubara also warned his supporters against using his name to promote political activities outside the Rainbow Coalition.
“So please, I want this to be made clear to everybody. Don’t go anywhere and say you are supporting Fubara, Fubara. No, no, no.
“My position is this, and I’ve said it here clearly for everyone to hear. If you are not hearing well, use cotton wool or open your ear and let it enter well.
“I am not party to anything that will bring any form of disunity in this state. I’ve done what I need to do. For now, we are moving forward,” he said.
The governor’s declaration comes months after he withdrew from the All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries in May 2026 following what he described as extensive consultations and reflection.
His withdrawal followed his reconciliation with Wike after a prolonged political crisis that sharply divided Rivers State.
The Rainbow Coalition is a cross-party political alliance comprising APC loyalists, factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and other political groups aligned with President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
