Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has promised to deliver at least three million votes for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election while endorsing the cross-party Rainbow Coalition’s candidates in the state.
Speaking on Saturday at Tinubu’s presidential campaign rally at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, Fubara said the mobilisation effort would be led by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, who heads the Rainbow Coalition in Rivers.
“Under your guidance and direction, under the guidance and direction of our leader, the coordinator of the presidential campaign council for Rivers State, the Honourable Minister, we will campaign, mobilise our people to secure and deliver a decisive victory with a vote not less than three million for Mr President,” Fubara declared.
He also confirmed that the coalition’s mixed slate of All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates would be delivered in the state.“Let me also put it on record that in Rivers State, notwithstanding that our APC members were doing Rainbow Coalition, and in Rainbow Coalition, we have the slate, the slate runs from APC and PDP. We want to assure you that our slate will be delivered come January 2027, Mr President,” he added.
The Rainbow Coalition is a Wike-led alliance that supports Tinubu’s re-election while backing selected candidates from different parties for governorship, National Assembly and state assembly seats. Its preferred governorship candidate is APC’s Kingsley Chinda.
The arrangement has drawn criticism from some APC leaders who prefer exclusive support for party candidates at all levels.The pledge comes after Fubara’s reconciliation with Wike following a bitter political crisis that began in late 2023.
The dispute over control of the state’s political structure led to a split in the Rivers State House of Assembly and impeachment moves against the governor. President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in March 2025, suspending Fubara, his deputy and lawmakers for six months.
Fubara returned to office in September 2025 and later publicly rejoined Wike’s political camp, recognising him as leader of the Rainbow Coalition and unveiling its candidates.Saturday’s rally formed part of Tinubu’s early campaign activities ahead of the 2027 general elections. Presidential and National Assembly polls are scheduled for 16 January 2027, with governorship and state assembly elections set for 6 February.