Fubara said he had returned to his political family after resolving his differences with his predecessor, insisting that Wike was now the common leader of the coalition.
The Rainbow Coalition, initiated by Wike, brings together politicians from different parties to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
The governor made the declaration on Tuesday during the unveiling of the coalition’s candidates for the 2027 elections in Rivers State at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Port Harcourt.
Addressing members of the coalition, Fubara acknowledged that some of his supporters who stood by him during the political crisis in Rivers State still regarded him as their leader, particularly during meetings.
He, however, urged them to put the past behind them and recognise Wike’s leadership of the new political platform.
“I’m aware there are some issues where some persons who followed me when we had the crisis, when you’re at your meeting, you say, ‘My leader, my leader,’” Fubara said.
“We are now in one house. And because we have one house, there is no issue about who is the leader. I might be your oga (governor), but we have a common leader now. So, please, going forward, this issue of my leader, my leader, my leader, I want it resolved here and now.”
Fubara subsequently addressed Wike as the leader of the Rainbow Coalition while handing over flags to the platform’s candidates.
“Your Excellency, my oga, the leader of the Rainbow Coalition. Let me borrow the language of the PDP man. He said our G.O. You’re the G.O of Rainbow Coalition,” the governor said.
Fubara Pledges Support for Tinubu, Coalition Candidates
Expressing delight over the reconciliation, Fubara described the gathering as an opportunity to reunite with his political family and work towards what he called a common cause for Rivers State.
He acknowledged Wike’s role in his emergence as governor, saying his political journey would not have been possible without the support of his predecessor and other political leaders.
“I’m really happy to be here. Not just being here, but standing in the midst of my family. This is my family because I wouldn’t have been the governor of Rivers State if God Almighty had not passed through my oga and other leaders to make it possible in our dear state,” he said.
Fubara expressed gratitude that both camps had reunited despite their prolonged political differences, pledging to work towards victory for Tinubu and all Rainbow Coalition candidates in the 2027 elections.
He also praised Tinubu for standing by him during what he described as a difficult period in his political career.
“I want to say that 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 by me in my most difficult time, but also to ensure that this power remains in our own bloc,” he said.
The governor added that he would work to ensure that political power remained under Wike’s leadership.
Fubara described the opportunity to unveil the coalition’s candidates as a rare honour and expressed confidence in their prospects in the forthcoming elections.
He said he would personally unveil the coalition’s principal candidate, while another official would assist in announcing the other candidates as their flags were presented.
Background to the Fubara-Wike Political Crisis
The political dispute between Fubara and Wike erupted in October 2023, barely six months after Fubara assumed office as governor. Wike, who had supported Fubara’s emergence, fell out with his successor over control of the state’s political structure and the influence of Wike’s loyalists in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The crisis escalated into moves to impeach Fubara, a division within the Assembly and legal battles over the control of the state’s political institutions.
A peace agreement brokered by Tinubu in December 2023 failed to end the dispute, which subsequently deepened over budgetary issues, local government elections and political appointments.
On March 18, 2025, Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, resulting in the suspension of Fubara, his deputy and members of the state legislature for six months.
Fubara returned to office in September 2025, but political tensions continued amid disagreements between the rival camps. The dispute also affected discussions surrounding his political future and prospects for a second term.
The latest reconciliation and Fubara’s public recognition of Wike as the Rainbow Coalition’s leader signal an effort by the two politicians to move beyond their prolonged disagreement and present a united political front ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The extent to which the reconciliation will reshape political alignments in Rivers State remains to be seen as preparations for the next elections gather momentum.
