The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara have pledged support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, presenting a united political front at the unveiling of the Rainbow Coalition’s preferred candidates in Port Harcourt.
At the event, Wike urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties in Rivers State and beyond to support Tinubu in the 2027 general elections, regardless of their party affiliations.
Fubara, who affirmed Wike’s leadership of the political bloc, also pledged to mobilise support for the President, saying Tinubu had stood by him during his most difficult period in office.
Describing the gathering as a reunion with his political family, the governor acknowledged Wike’s role, alongside other political leaders, in his emergence as governor of Rivers State.
“There is no issue about who is the leader. I might be your oga, but we have a common leader now,” Fubara said.
He urged members of the coalition to set aside their differences over leadership and work towards their shared political objectives.
“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,” he said.
Fubara also pledged to work towards Tinubu’s re-election, citing the President’s support during a difficult period in his administration.
“With all my heart, and soul, and body, I will do everything within my power to ensure that we have victory not just for Mr President who has stood for me in my most difficult time,” the governor said.
He further expressed confidence in the political bloc’s future under Wike’s leadership.
In his remarks, Wike called on members of the Labour Party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the PDP, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Action Alliance (AA) and other political parties in Rivers State to rally behind Tinubu.
He argued that party affiliation should not prevent political stakeholders from supporting the President’s re-election bid.
“It doesn’t matter the party he may belong, it may be Labour Party in Rivers, it may be APGA in Rivers, it may be PDP in Rivers, it may be APC in Rivers, it may be AA in Rivers, we all have to mobilise all our people and give support, give all our votes to Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Wike said.
The FCT Minister extended the appeal to PDP members in other states, specifically mentioning Kwara, Zamfara, Abia and Ogun.
“Every PDP member in Rivers State, you will support Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he declared.
Wike also urged the coalition to support the APC’s candidates for the Rivers State governorship, the National Assembly and the State House of Assembly.
The minister criticised former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over his political record and position on power rotation, questioning his consistency on political agreements. He referred to his involvement in the PDP presidential primaries in 2022 and the 2019 presidential election in making his arguments.
Wike also raised questions about the management of funds under a previous Rivers State administration, citing foreign currency transactions, the monorail project and afforestation. The allegations were made during his remarks at the event.
He further announced that Tinubu was expected to visit Rivers State on 7 November for an event whose specific purpose was not clear from his remarks.
Also speaking, the APC governorship candidate, identified in the remarks as Kingsley Chinda, said the coalition was united by a common purpose that would extend beyond the elections.
He said the arrangement was not solely about winning elections but also about ensuring that participating groups had a role in governance after the polls.
“The government will continue as a government of coalition by members of the rainbow,” he said.
He added that the coalition envisaged an inclusive administration that would accommodate different political parties, genders and religious groups while prioritising the interests of Rivers State residents.
He said the political understanding among coalition members was intended to prevent a recurrence of crises experienced during previous elections.
