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‘If You’re Not With Me, Leave’: Fubara Warns Supporters Over Wike’s Coalition

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2 minutes ago

November 12, 2026

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has told supporters unwilling to align with the Rainbow Coalition led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to leave, declaring that his decision to return to his political family is non-negotiable.

Fubara made the declaration on Thursday during the inauguration of the Rivers State All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council Rainbow Coalition in Port Harcourt.

Addressing members of the newly inaugurated council, the governor congratulated those whose names appeared on the list and urged those omitted not to feel discouraged, explaining that there were still sub-committees to be constituted and the list could be updated.

He, however, warned his supporters against divided loyalty, insisting that anyone unwilling to work with the coalition should freely leave.

“We still have sub-committees. The list can also be updated, so you don’t have any problems to worry about. The most important thing is to work with your heart sincerely.

“Don’t openly say you’re with me and behold you’re doing a different thing. I’m here, and I say it boldly anywhere, any day. And anybody who says he is not with me, gently go your way,” he said.

Fubara acknowledged that adjusting to the new political arrangement following the prolonged crisis in the state might be difficult for some of his supporters but urged them to put the past behind them and concentrate on the future.

“Don’t go behind and say this is Fubara, no, no, no. I have said it. It might be difficult, but we have gone past that. We are looking at the future and what God holds for us,” he added.

The governor charged members of the campaign council to work collectively towards achieving their political objectives, expressing confidence that the coalition would secure more votes than it recorded in the 2023 elections.

“Nothing is impossible. Provided it’s something that has to do with life, it is possible if we take it as a serious responsibility, a serious task that must be achieved, we will come out with a stronger vote than what we did in 2023,” he said.

Fubara also thanked Wike and other political leaders for their efforts in establishing the campaign council.

Earlier, Wike, who inaugurated the council, announced plans to establish campaign councils across the 23 local government areas of Rivers State.

The minister said the coalition would abandon conventional campaign rallies and adopt a grassroots mobilisation strategy involving community gatherings, family meetings and age-grade associations.

“We are going away from that ceremonial campaign style. When we are going to Gokana today, we just stay in one field and begin to talk to those we already know.

“It is going to be different. This time around, we are going round to communities, to family meetings, to age-grade meetings and other informal groups to talk to them, not necessarily those we meet with every day,” Wike said.

He commended Fubara for attending the inauguration and other engagements of the council despite his busy schedule.

Wike, who is also the National Leader of the PDP/Rainbow Coalition, said members of the campaign council were selected based on their capacity to participate actively in the coalition’s activities and deliver electoral results.

He urged them to mobilise support for candidates of the APC and the Rainbow Coalition in the 2027 presidential, governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.

The development comes amid the prolonged political feud between Fubara and Wike, who governed Rivers State from 2015 to 2023 and backed Fubara’s emergence as his successor.

Their disagreement, which became public in October 2023, revolved around control of the state’s political structures and influence over the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The crisis triggered a division among lawmakers and repeated moves to impeach Fubara.

Tensions escalated in March 2025 when President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending the governor, his deputy and members of the State House of Assembly for six months.

The elected officials returned to office in September 2025 following the expiration of the emergency rule.

Reconciliation efforts gained momentum in 2026 after Wike announced an end to the feud and a reconciliation committee was established to engage Fubara and his supporters.

The Rainbow Coalition, led by Wike, comprises political actors from different parties, including the APC and PDP, in support of President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.

Fubara subsequently declared support for the coalition and endorsed Kingsley Chinda as his preferred successor in the 2027 Rivers governorship election.

He also withdrew from the APC governorship contest, describing the decision as necessary for peace and political unity in the state.