BY TAIBAT UMMI YAKUBU

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has publicly recognised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, as the state’s common political leader, marking a significant development in their previously strained relationship as the 2027 general elections approach.

Fubara made the declaration on Tuesday in Port Harcourt during the unveiling of candidates selected by the Rainbow Coalition, a political alliance spearheaded by Wike, for various elective positions in Rivers State.

At the event, the governor also presented the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag to Ogundu Kingsley Chinda, Wike’s ally, who was unveiled as the party’s governorship candidate.

The coalition’s candidates for the governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and Rivers State House of Assembly were drawn from both the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), reflecting the alliance’s involvement across the two political platforms.

Addressing the gathering, Fubara urged those who had continued to address him as their political leader during the crisis that previously divided the state’s political camp to stop doing so, insisting that the situation had changed.

“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,” the governor said.

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His statement places Wike at the centre of the coalition’s political leadership ahead of the 2027 elections, while the presentation of the APC flag to Chinda signals the alliance’s choice of candidate for the governorship contest.

The unveiling brings together politicians from the APC and PDP under the Rainbow Coalition as preparations for the next general elections gather momentum in Rivers State.

The full list of the coalition’s candidates for the various elective positions was expected to provide further details of the alliance’s political arrangements.