Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his loyalty to President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, pledging to work for the victory of the Rainbow Coalition in the 2027 general elections.
Fubara made the pledge on Tuesday at the unveiling of the coalition’s candidates in Port Harcourt, where he called on members to put past political differences behind them and unite for the elections.
Describing the coalition as his political family, the governor said he was delighted to reunite with allies following a crisis that had divided 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 roles in his emergence as governor, expressing gratitude that they had reunited to pursue what he described as the collective interest of Rivers State.
He pledged to support the coalition’s candidates and do everything within his power to ensure their victory at the polls.
The governor also thanked Tinubu for standing by him during his most difficult period, reaffirming his commitment to the political bloc led by 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 unveiling ceremony as an honour and expressed confidence in the coalition’s prospects in the January 2027 elections.
Rainbow coalition unveils candidates
The Rainbow Coalition comprises seven political parties that have aligned to field consensus candidates for the 2027 elections in Rivers State. The parties are 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 candidates from the APC and PDP emerged as the coalition’s consensus candidates for the elections.
The coalition, led by Wike, who is also 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 candidacies, while the PDP secured 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’s list for the House of Representatives comprises 13 candidates, including 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 contesting for the Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency.
The PDP candidates include Kelechi Nwogu for Etche/Omuma, Arthur Uchendu for Ikwerre/Emohua and Achinike Wonodi for Port Harcourt I.
For the Rivers State House of Assembly, the coalition has 32 candidates, comprising 21 APC members and 11 PDP members.
