Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has drawn a loyalty line within his political camp, warning supporters unwilling to embrace the Nyesom Wike-led Rainbow Coalition to leave, in a move that signals his determination to consolidate the political reconciliation with his predecessor.
Fubara issued the warning on Thursday in Port Harcourt during the inauguration of the Rivers State All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council Rainbow Coalition, insisting that his decision to return to his political family was irreversible.
The governor cautioned against divided loyalty, declaring that supporters could no longer publicly identify with him while secretly working against the coalition.
“Don’t openly say you’re with me and behold you’re doing a different thing. I’m here, and I say it boldly anywhere, any day. And anybody who says he is not with me, gently go your way,” he declared.
His remarks appeared directed at supporters still uncomfortable with his political realignment following the prolonged confrontation with Wike, who backed his emergence as governor in 2023.
Fubara acknowledged that accepting the new political arrangement might be difficult for some of his loyalists but insisted that the disagreements that previously divided the camps should no longer dictate their political direction.
“It might be difficult, but we have gone past that. We are looking at the future and what God holds for us,” he said.
Addressing those whose names were omitted from the campaign council, the governor urged them not to feel excluded, explaining that additional appointments could be made through sub-committees and subsequent adjustments.
He charged members to demonstrate genuine commitment to the coalition, expressing confidence that the political alliance would deliver stronger electoral results in 2027 than his camp recorded during the 2023 elections.
“We will come out with a stronger vote than what we did in 2023. It is only for us to say yes, we want to do it,” he said.
Fubara also acknowledged the efforts of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and other political leaders in establishing the campaign council.
Earlier, Wike, who inaugurated the council, announced plans to establish campaign structures across Rivers State’s 23 local government areas to strengthen grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said the coalition would abandon conventional rallies and adopt a community-based campaign strategy involving direct engagement with residents through family meetings, community gatherings and age-grade associations.
“We are going away from that ceremonial campaign style. This time around, we are going round to communities, to family meetings, to age-grade meetings and other informal groups to talk to them, not necessarily those we meet with every day,” Wike said.
The former Rivers governor explained that repeatedly gathering familiar political supporters for rallies would not achieve the desired electoral results, stressing the need to reach voters at the grassroots.
Wike, who is also the National Leader of the PDP/Rainbow Coalition, said members of the campaign council were selected based on their ability to participate actively and deliver electoral results.
He urged them to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu and other candidates endorsed by the APC and the Rainbow Coalition in the 2027 presidential, governorship and legislative elections.
The latest development represents a significant chapter in the political reconciliation between Fubara and Wike, whose disagreement over control of Rivers State’s political structures erupted publicly in October 2023.
The dispute fractured the State House of Assembly, triggered repeated impeachment moves against Fubara and plunged the oil-rich state into prolonged political uncertainty.
The crisis escalated in March 2025 when President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, leading to the suspension of Fubara, his deputy and members of the State House of Assembly for six months.
The elected officials returned to office in September 2025 following the expiration of the emergency rule.
Reconciliation efforts gathered momentum in 2026 after Wike announced an end to the feud and a committee was constituted to engage Fubara and his supporters.
The Rainbow Coalition subsequently emerged as a political platform bringing together actors from different parties, including the APC and PDP, to support Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
Fubara later aligned with the coalition and endorsed Kingsley Chinda as his preferred successor in the 2027 Rivers governorship election.
He also withdrew from the APC governorship contest, saying his decision was informed by the need to promote peace and political unity in the state.
