The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday rallied political leaders in Rivers State behind President Bola Tinubu’s bid for re-election in 2027.

During a reconciliation among former political rivals under the Rainbow Coalition in Port Harcourt, Mr Wike urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across Rivers and other states to support Mr Tinubu, regardless of party affiliation.

The event was attended by Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, former governor Rotimi Amaechi’s political rival and Senator Magnus Abe, and candidates from different political parties participating in the coalition.

He urged PDP members in Rivers, Kwara, Benue, Ondo, Ogun and other states to rally behind the president.

“Every PDP member in Rivers State will support Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Every PDP member in Kwara State, you will support Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Every PDP member in Benue State, you will support Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Mr Wike said.

The minister also criticised opposition figures, particularly former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, questioning his political consistency and his capacity to provide an alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The minister also criticised former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi over his political record, revisiting promises made during Amaechi’s administration between 2007 and 2015.

Mr Fubara described the gathering as an opportunity to reunite political allies and work towards the development of Rivers State.

“I’m really happy to be here. Not just being here, standing in the midst of my family. This is my family because I wouldn’t have been the governor of Rivers State if, by the grace of the Almighty, I had not passed through my oga and other leaders to make it possible in our dear state,” he said.

Mr Fubara said political leaders shared a responsibility to work for the state’s progress despite past disagreements.

“So no matter what has happened, I’m very grateful today that, one way or the other, we are back together for a better cause and for the good of our dear state,” he added.

Mr Abe urged Mr Amaechi to reconsider his decision to serve as running mate to Mr Abubakar, adding that the arrangement contradicted the principle of power rotation between northern and southern Nigeria.

He said the Rainbow Coalition supported Mr Tinubu because the presidency should remain in the South under the power-sharing arrangement.

According to him, it was inconsistent for Mr Amaechi to oppose a southern presidency in the past but now support a northern candidate when, according to him, it was the South’s turn.

“On behalf of all of us here gathered in Rivers State, we want to call on Amaechi to immediately respect his own position and resign as the vice-presidential candidate to Atiku Abubakar, because it is the turn of the South, and Rivers State will stand by the agreement between the North and the South,” Mr Abe said.

Mr Abe subsequently declared his full support for the coalition.