Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has publicly recognised Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, as the leader of their political bloc. This development follows their reconciliation after a prolonged political crisis. Fubara made this declaration at the unveiling of Rainbow Coalition candidates for the 2027 elections at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt. He urged his supporters to stop addressing him as their political leader, citing their newfound unity.
The reconciliation between Fubara and Wike marks the end of their political disagreement, which began in October 2023. The crisis led to impeachment moves, divisions in the Rivers State House of Assembly, and several legal battles. President Bola Tinubu intervened in December 2023, but the disagreement persisted, culminating in a state of emergency in March 2025 and Fubara’s six-month suspension from office. Fubara acknowledged Wike’s role in his emergence as Rivers State governor in 2023.
Fubara described Wike as “my oga” and emphasised that their reconciliation marked a new beginning for their political relationship. He urged supporters who stood by him during the crisis to recognise Wike’s leadership. The governor also expressed his commitment to working towards President Tinubu’s re-election and the success of Rainbow Coalition candidates in 2027. The coalition, established by Wike, brings together politicians from different parties supporting Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
The Rainbow Coalition, according to Wike, aims to unite politicians across party lines rather than create further divisions. He criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers governor Rotimi Amaechi, questioning their political consistency. Wike urged Peoples Democratic Party members to support Tinubu’s re-election and announced that the president would visit Port Harcourt on 7 November for a campaign rally.
The coalition’s governorship candidate, Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, pledged to run an inclusive administration if elected. Fubara’s reconciliation with Wike has significant implications for the political landscape in Rivers State. The move is expected to bring stability to the state’s politics and pave the way for the coalition’s candidates to contest the 2027 elections.
Meanwhile, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has rejected the establishment of a Rainbow Coalition in his state, insisting that the APC remained his preferred political platform. This development suggests that the coalition’s influence may be limited to specific states or regions. The recognition of Wike as the leader of their political bloc is a significant development in Rivers State politics.
The reconciliation between Fubara and Wike has set the stage for a united front in support of President Tinubu’s re-election and the coalition’s candidates in 2027. The move is expected to have far-reaching consequences for Nigerian politics, particularly in Rivers State.
Key points
- Fubara recognises Wike as the leader of their political bloc following their reconciliation.
- The Rainbow Coalition aims to unite politicians across party lines in support of President Tinubu’s re-election.
- Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has rejected the establishment of a Rainbow Coalition in his state.
