Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has formally aligned himself with the Rainbow Coalition led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, urging his supporters to recognise the former governor as the political bloc’s leader.

Fubara made the declaration on Tuesday during the unveiling of the coalition’s candidates for the 2027 general elections at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt.

The governor said the political disagreement between him and Wike had ended, adding that those who supported him during their prolonged dispute should now work within the same political platform.

He acknowledged Wike’s role in his emergence as governor and said he was committed to securing victory for President Bola Tinubu and the coalition’s candidates.

Fubara repeatedly addressed the FCT minister as “my oga”, insisting that although he was the sitting governor, both men now belonged to one political family under Wike’s leadership.

The Rainbow Coalition, initiated by Wike, brings together politicians from different parties to support Tinubu’s second-term bid while backing agreed candidates for other elective positions in Rivers State.

At the event, the coalition presented Kingsley Ogundu Chinda, a former minority leader of the House of Representatives, as its governorship candidate under the All Progressives Congress (APC), with Major Jack as his running mate.

For the Senate, Felix Amaechi Obua and Allwell Onyesoh Iheacho were listed as candidates for Rivers West and Rivers East respectively, under the APC, while Olaka Johnson Nwogu would contest Rivers South-East under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The coalition also unveiled 13 candidates for the House of Representatives and 32 candidates for the Rivers State House of Assembly, drawn from the APC and PDP.

Speaking at the ceremony, Wike said the coalition was intended to unite politicians across party lines in support of Tinubu’s re-election rather than create further political divisions.

He directed PDP members across the country to support the President in 2027, while also urging coalition members to work for the success of the adopted candidates in Rivers State.

Wike criticised former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over their political positions and records. The allegations made during his speech were not accompanied by responses from the individuals concerned at the event.

The minister also announced that Tinubu was expected to visit Port Harcourt on November 7 for a presidential campaign rally at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.

The reconciliation between Fubara and Wike follows a political crisis that began in October 2023, months after Fubara assumed office. The disagreement involved control of the state’s political structures and the influence of Wike’s loyalists in the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The dispute escalated into impeachment moves, divisions within the Assembly and legal battles. In March 2025, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, resulting in the suspension of the governor, his deputy and state lawmakers for six months. Fubara returned to office in September 2025, although tensions continued.

The latest alliance signals a renewed effort by the two political figures to consolidate their support ahead of the 2027 elections.

Meanwhile, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma ruled out the Rainbow Coalition’s presence in his state, reaffirming his support for the APC and calling on residents to back the party’s candidates at all levels.

Uzodimma made the declaration in Owerri on Tuesday during the distribution of campaign vehicles by the PBAT Door-to-door Movement, maintaining that the APC would lead its campaign efforts in Imo State.