Ahead of the 2027 general elections, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has openly declared his backing for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid and the governorship ambition of the All Progressives Congress candidate in the state, Kingsley Chinda.
In what appeared to signal the end of the prolonged political feud in Rivers State, the governor announced that he had aligned with the Rainbow Coalition, a political platform championed by his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to promote the interests of the APC in the state.
The Punch reported that Fubara made the declaration on Wednesday during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Riven Medical Industries Project in Port Harcourt.
According to him, the political camps that had been at loggerheads in the state had resolved their differences and agreed to work together for peace, stability and development.
He therefore called on his supporters across Rivers State to rally behind Tinubu, Chinda and all candidates contesting under the Rainbow Coalition in the 2027 elections.
He said, “We have made peace in the state, and I’m supporting our Rainbow Coalition. President Bola Tinubu is our President, and is the one we are supporting.
“OK Chinda is the governorship candidate that I am supporting, and anybody who believes in me will support him and every other candidate that is under the Rainbow Coalition.
“I’ve gone back to our family. So, please, whoever you are, give your total support to the Rainbow Coalition. We need to move forward. The time of war is over. It is time for peace, and this peace is taking us to another level.”
The governor further stressed that there should be no ambiguity about his political position.
He added, “I want this to be made clear to everybody. So, don’t go anywhere and say you’re supporting Fubara …. No.
“My position is this: I have said it here and clearly for everyone to hear. If you’re not hearing well, use cotton wool to clean your ears and let it enter well.
“I’m not party to anything that will bring any form of disunity in this state. I’ve done what I need to do, and we are moving forward.”
The political crisis between Fubara and Wike began in late 2023 following a fierce struggle over the control of the state’s political structure after Wike assumed office as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The conflict led to a split in the Rivers State House of Assembly, impeachment threats against the governor and months of political tension between supporters of both leaders.
The crisis escalated further in 2025 when President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Fubara, his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, and members of the state House of Assembly. Although the suspension was later lifted, political disagreements persisted ahead of the 2027 polls.
Before the APC governorship primary, Fubara obtained the party’s nomination form but did not participate after reportedly failing to secure approval from the party’s national leadership. Chinda eventually emerged as the party’s governorship candidate.
Wike subsequently endorsed Chinda and other candidates under what he described as the Rainbow Coalition, an alliance bringing together APC and Peoples Democratic Party candidates for the 2027 elections.
Speaking on the Riven Medical Industries Project, Fubara described the investment as a major step towards industrial development but cautioned against a repeat of previous experiences where investors failed to fulfil contractual obligations, resulting in legal disputes.
He said his administration approved the project after being satisfied that the investors possessed the capacity and commitment to revive the facility, create employment opportunities and stimulate economic growth in the state.
The governor urged the investors to keep to the agreed schedule and ensure that the first phase of the project is completed within three months.
He also appealed to host communities and the leadership of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area to support the initiative and refrain from actions that could hinder its implementation.
Fubara assured the investors of his administration’s continued support to ensure the successful delivery of the project.
The Riven Medical Industries Project is a public-private partnership between the Rivers State Government and Enbay Pharmaceutical Industries Limited.
The initiative is being executed through Riven Medical Industries Limited, a special purpose vehicle established by Enbay to redevelop the former Integrated Medical Industries into a modern pharmaceutical manufacturing complex.
When completed, the facility is expected to produce pharmaceutical formulations, gelatine capsules, intravenous infusions and active pharmaceutical ingredients, helping to boost local pharmaceutical production and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported medicines.
The project is also projected to generate direct and indirect jobs, encourage technology transfer, attract fresh investments and strengthen Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturing and healthcare value chains.
In a statement, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onwuka Nzeshi, said the groundbreaking ceremony marked the commencement of a project designed to promote industrialisation, economic diversification, improved healthcare delivery and strategic partnerships in Rivers State and across Nigeria.
