Wike, Fubara close ranks behind Tinubu
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, publicly displayed renewed political unity on Tuesday, throwing their weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid and endorsing APC candidates ahead of the 2027 general election.
The alliance was showcased at a mega rally organised by the Rainbow Coalition at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt, where candidates of the coalition parties were unveiled before a large crowd of supporters.
Nathan Tamarapreye
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, publicly displayed renewed political unity on Tuesday, throwing their weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid and endorsing APC candidates ahead of the 2027 general election.
The alliance was showcased at a mega rally organised by the Rainbow Coalition at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt, where candidates of the coalition parties were unveiled before a large crowd of supporters.
Wike, founder of the Rainbow Coalition, said members had agreed to mobilise support for Tinubu regardless of party affiliation. He also announced the coalition’s endorsement of APC governorship candidate Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, alongside APC candidates contesting National Assembly and State Assembly seats.
According to Wike, the coalition was established to unite political parties and supporters behind Tinubu’s second-term bid while promoting political stability in Rivers State.
“You have made a statement today for those who may not know that Rivers State is firmly behind Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he told the crowd.
He said the coalition was committed to ending political divisions and preventing a return to the instability that had previously affected the state.
“We will not have crisis and bloodshed in Rivers State again. What we will have is a united Rivers State and one government,” Wike said.
The former Rivers governor urged PDP members across the country to support Tinubu, insisting that backing the President transcended party lines.
Wike also launched a sharp attack on former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the ADC presidential candidate, and his running mate, former Rivers governor Rotimi Amaechi, questioning the credibility of their ticket.
Drawing on his experience during the 2022 PDP presidential primary, Wike accused Atiku of political inconsistency and challenged Amaechi to reconcile his current alliance with positions he had previously taken on power rotation and other national issues.
“As bad as Atiku’s ticket is, attaching Rotimi as the vice worsened it,” he said.
The FCT minister further criticised Amaechi’s tenure as Rivers governor, raising questions over the state’s fumigation programme, the proposed Justice Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital, the Port Harcourt monorail project and the sale of the Omoku gas turbine.
He alleged that millions of dollars and billions of naira were spent on the projects without commensurate results and challenged Amaechi to account for the expenditures.
“Where is the $308 million? Where is the $39 million? Where is the N68 billion? And where is the $10 million for fumigation?” Wike asked.
He urged Rivers voters to reject the ADC ticket and support Tinubu and APC candidates in the 2027 elections.
In his remarks, Fubara described the event as a reunion with his political family and reaffirmed his commitment to the coalition.
The governor acknowledged Wike’s role in his emergence as governor, expressing gratitude for the support he received.
“I am happy to be here, standing in the midst of my family. I would not have been governor if God had not worked through my leader to make it possible,” Fubara said.
He dismissed concerns over leadership disputes within the coalition, saying members were now united under a common political structure.
“We are now in one house. There is no issue of who is your leader because we are together,” he said.
Fubara later unveiled Chinda as the APC governorship candidate and presented party flags to him and other coalition candidates.
He expressed confidence that the coalition would emerge victorious in 2027 and urged supporters to remain focused on their shared objectives.
Speaking on behalf of candidates from the coalition’s six political parties, Chinda said the alliance was united by its commitment to securing Tinubu’s re-election and advancing Rivers State’s interests.
“We are gathered with one purpose, and that purpose is to return President Tinubu to office,” Chinda said.
He pledged to run an inclusive administration if elected, promising that all coalition partners would have a role in governance.
“We will run a government of inclusivity that places the interests of Rivers people first. The coalition will not end after the election,” he said.
Chinda also thanked Fubara for unveiling the candidates, describing the gesture as a strong demonstration of unity and collective resolve within the coalition.
