Two Fubara allies join Wike’s coalition in Rivers as political realignments grow ahead of the 2027 elections
Two key allies of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Darlington Orji and Collins Onunwo, have reportedly joined the Rainbow Coalition, a political alliance associated with Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, as preparations for the 2027 elections continue.
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Orji, who served as Senior Special Assistant to Governor Fubara, and Onunwo, a former Rivers State Commissioner for Transport, were among the governor’s supporters during the prolonged political crisis that shaped the state’s political landscape.
The Rainbow Coalition is a bipartisan alliance reportedly coordinated by Wike, with the stated objective of supporting the re-election bid of President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
The move comes after Fubara withdrew from the Rivers governorship race ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election, a decision that cleared the way for Kingsley Chinda, a member of the House of Representatives, to emerge as the party’s governorship candidate.
The governor’s decision reportedly unsettled some of his political allies, some of whom had remained aligned with him throughout the dispute that affected relations between Rivers political blocs.
Confirming his new political direction, Orji shared photographs of himself with other members of the coalition on Facebook, writing that he had “returned home to my family.”
The development represents another shift in Rivers State’s evolving political calculations, where alliances have continued to change ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The political relationship between Fubara and Wike has been at the centre of intense attention in Rivers State following disagreements that created divisions among members of the state’s political establishment.
While both figures were once closely aligned, the crisis reshaped loyalties and triggered a series of political movements.
Also read: Aisha Yesufu Urges Opposition Unity Behind Peter Obi in 2027
With the 2027 elections approaching, the movement of influential figures between camps is expected to remain a major factor in determining the strength of political alliances across the state.
