Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, the political leader of the state, asking his supporters to stop referring to him as their leader.
Fubara made the declaration on Tuesday in Port Harcourt during the unveiling of candidates endorsed by the Rainbow Coalition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The governor said the political crisis that had divided the state had given way to reconciliation, adding that supporters should now recognise Wike as the common leader of the political group.
“Those that called me my leader during the crises, please stop calling me my leader, we have a common leader now, which is His Excellency Chief Nyesom Wike,” Fubara said.
The statement marks a significant development in the political relationship between Fubara and Wike, who were previously involved in a prolonged dispute that divided political stakeholders in Rivers State.
The crisis escalated in 2025 and led President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State in March that year. The emergency rule remained in place until September 2025.
Fubara and Wike have held a series of reconciliation meetings in recent months as political realignments continue ahead of the 2027 elections.
The governor’s latest remarks came during the unveiling of candidates backed by the Rainbow Coalition, a political platform associated with Wike and comprising stakeholders from different political parties.
The event attracted politicians and representatives of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), Action Alliance (AA), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Allied Peoples Movement (APM), among others.
The coalition is seeking to consolidate support for its preferred candidates ahead of the next general elections.
Fubara has recently declared support for President Bola Tinubu and the Rainbow Coalition, urging his followers to back the candidates endorsed by the platform.
He has also expressed support for Ogundu Kingsley Chinda, the coalition-backed candidate for the Rivers State governorship election in 2027.
The governor’s latest declaration signals a further shift in the political alignment between him and Wike, following months of reconciliation efforts and negotiations involving key political figures in the state.
The development comes as political parties and influential leaders in Rivers State intensify preparations for the 2027 elections, with alliances and candidate endorsements shaping the emerging political landscape.
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