President Bola Tinubu on Saturday embraced Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara at a political rally in Port Harcourt after the governor pledged to secure at least three million votes for the President in the 2027 general elections.
The gesture occurred at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium during the Rainbow Coalition Presidential Campaign Rally, where Tinubu stood up from his seat to hug Fubara and pat him on the back shortly after the governor delivered his speech.
Fubara, while addressing the gathering, attributed the political arrangement in Rivers State to the leadership of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who is coordinating the Rainbow Coalition’s activities in the state.
“Under the guidance and leadership of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, we will deliver not less than three million votes for you,” Fubara declared.
The governor also announced the formation of a political alliance involving members of the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, describing the arrangement as the Rainbow Coalition.
“Let me also announce that in Rivers State, we are doing a Rainbow Coalition (APC and PDP),” he added.
The development signals a renewed political partnership between Fubara and Wike, following their prolonged disagreement that plunged Rivers State into a major political crisis.
The feud between the two politicians, who were previously allies, had triggered a prolonged struggle over the control of the state’s political structure and government, with the crisis escalating into a dispute over the leadership of the state.
Their recent reconciliation has brought them together in support of Tinubu’s second-term ambition, with Wike playing a central role in mobilising political support for the President in Rivers State.
Fubara has also reportedly abandoned his re-election ambition as part of the reconciliation arrangement.
Tinubu’s visit to Rivers followed his engagement in Akwa Ibom State on Friday, where he commissioned projects executed by Governor Umo Eno’s administration, including the Victor Attah International Airport.
The President arrived in Port Harcourt on Saturday after departing Akwa Ibom.
He was received at the Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo International Airport by Vice President Kashim Shettima, several South-South governors, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, APC National Chairman Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, and other senior government officials.
Ahead of the rally, Wike had expressed optimism about the turnout, predicting that more than 70,000 supporters would attend the event.
Speaking during an inspection of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium on Friday, the minister said Rivers residents were eager to welcome the President.
“We are highly elated to receive Mr President. Rivers people are very enthusiastic to receive him tomorrow. That is why we have come here to see how prepared we are,” Wike said.
During his visit to Akwa Ibom, Tinubu recalled his professional engagements in the state before his entry into politics, when he worked as an auditor with Mobil.
“This is a homecoming for me. I was here in Akwa Ibom as a Mobil auditor. We built Ibeno, developed Eket, did what we had to do,” Tinubu said.
He also praised Eno for completing the airport project, describing it as the fulfilment of a long-standing vision.
