Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his loyalty to President Bola Tinubu and his commitment to the Rainbow Coalition led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, pledging to work for the bloc’s victory in the 2027 general elections.
Fubara made the declaration on Tuesday in Port Harcourt during the unveiling of the coalition’s candidates for the elections, where he called on members to put past disagreements behind them and unite for their collective political interest.
Describing the coalition as his political family, the governor expressed happiness at reuniting with political associates following a crisis that had strained relationships within the group.
“I’m really happy to be here, not just being here, but standing in the midst of my family,” he said.
Fubara acknowledged Wike and other political leaders for their contributions to his emergence as governor, expressing appreciation for their renewed cooperation in the interest of Rivers State.
He pledged to support the coalition’s candidates and deploy his influence to ensure their success at the polls.
The governor also expressed gratitude to Tinubu for standing by him during his most difficult period, reaffirming his commitment to the political bloc aligned with Wike.
“I’m here with all my heart, my soul, and my body, and 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, but also to ensure that this power still remains in our own bloc,” Fubara said.
He described the candidates’ unveiling as an honour and expressed confidence in the coalition’s prospects in the January 2027 elections.
The Rainbow Coalition comprises seven political parties: the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Action Alliance (AA), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Labour Party (LP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Boot Party.
However, only the APC and PDP produced consensus candidates for the various elective positions under the coalition’s arrangement.
The coalition, led by Wike, who remains a prominent national figure in the PDP, unveiled its candidates at a ceremony in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, emerged as the coalition’s governorship candidate on the APC platform, with the current Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Major Jack, as his running mate.
For the three senatorial districts, the APC secured two slots, while the PDP obtained one. Felix Amaechi Obua is the APC candidate for Rivers West, while Senator Allwell Onyesoh is the party’s candidate for Rivers East. Senator Olaka Nwogu of the PDP will contest for Rivers South-East.
The coalition also unveiled 13 candidates for the House of Representatives, comprising 10 APC members and three PDP members.
Among the APC candidates is the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, who is seeking election to represent Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency.
The PDP candidates include Kelechi Nwogu for Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency, Arthur Uchendu for Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency and Achinike Wonodi for Port Harcourt I Federal Constituency.
For the Rivers State House of Assembly, the coalition has 32 candidates, with 21 contesting on the APC platform and 11 on the PDP platform, as the alliance seeks to consolidate its political influence ahead of the 2027 elections.
