Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has publicly endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term, declared his support for the Rainbow Coalition in the state and backed Kingsley Chinda as his preferred candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
Fubara made the declarations on Wednesday at the groundbreaking and foundation-laying ceremony for the Rivers Medical Industry project in Rumuosi, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
In a video of his remarks circulated on social media, the governor said he had returned to his political family following his reconciliation with the camp of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and urged his supporters to align with the Rainbow Coalition.
“We have made peace in the state. And I am supporting our rainbow party, or rainbow coalition,” Fubara said.
He also declared his support for President Tinubu’s re-election bid, saying, “President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is our president, and he’s the one we are supporting.”
Fubara further endorsed Kingsley Chinda as the coalition’s preferred governorship candidate in Rivers State.
“Oke Chinda is the governorship candidate that I am supporting. And anybody who believes in me will support every candidate that is under the rainbow,” he said.
The governor urged his supporters who had delayed their return to the coalition in anticipation of political appointments or other personal benefits to end such expectations, insisting that he had already returned to the political family.
“For those of you who are saying, ‘Fubara, let’s stay, we want to collect something before we run,’ there is nothing to collect.
“I am already in the family. I’ve gone back to our family. So please, wherever you are, give your total support to that coalition.
“We need to move forward. The time of war is over; it’s time for peace. And this peace is taking us to another level. What you lose here, you’ll gain in another place. That is about life,” he said.
Fubara also warned his supporters against using his name to promote political activities outside the Rainbow Coalition.
“So please, I want this to be made clear to everybody. Don’t go anywhere and say you are supporting Fubara, Fubara. No, no, no.
“My position is this, and I’ve said it here clearly for everyone to hear. If you are not hearing well, use cotton wool or open your ear and let it enter well.
“I am not party to anything that will bring any form of disunity in this state. I’ve done what I need to do. For now, we are moving forward,” the governor said.
Fubara’s latest declaration comes months after he withdrew from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries in May, saying the decision followed extensive consultations and personal reflection.
His withdrawal came after his reconciliation with Wike, bringing an end to a prolonged political feud that had divided the state’s political leadership and pitted the two men against each other.
The Rainbow Coalition is a cross-party political alliance comprising APC loyalists, factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other political groups aligned with President Tinubu.
Fubara’s endorsement of Tinubu, the Rainbow Coalition and Chinda is expected to have significant implications for the political landscape in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 general elections, signalling his alignment with the political bloc led by Wike.
