The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike; the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Kingsley Chinda ; and their supporters met behind closed doors Tuesday night with Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of his political camp as part of ongoing reconciliation efforts in the state.

This is as the Rivers State chapter of the Labour Party has thrown its weight behind the Wike-led Rainbow Coalition, describing the emerging political alliance as a model of inclusive governance and “a masterclass in progressive politics.”

Reacting to the consultations and the emerging composition of the political alliance, which brought together political actors across the Peoples Democratic party,PDP, APC, Labour Party and other critical stakeholders, the Rivers State Chairman of the Labour Party, Fredrick Nwoje, said the development demonstrated that “governance is bigger than party,” adding that the coalition had opened its doors to political actors across party lines in the interest of Rivers State.

The latest development comes against the backdrop of years of political turmoil between Wike and Fubara, which escalated in October 2023 following a breakdown in relations between the governor and his predecessor.

The crisis led to a division in the Rivers State House of Assembly, with one faction led by Edison Ehie and later , Victor Oko Jumbo aligned with Fubara and another led by Martin Amaewhule backing Wike.

President Bola Tinubu subsequently intervened at various stages of the dispute in an effort to reconcile the rival camps.

The prolonged crisis eventually culminated in the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State in March 2025, during which Fubara, his deputy and members of the state House of Assembly were suspended for six months.

They were reinstated in September 2025 following the expiration of the suspension, but political disagreements between the rival camps persisted.

As part of subsequent reconciliation efforts, the President again intervened, with the parties agreeing to a number of terms aimed at resolving the dispute. One of the contentious issues was Fubara’s political future ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

The disagreement over the terms of the peace arrangement subsequently deepened, particularly over Fubara’s reported interest in the 2027 governorship race, before he eventually withdrew from the contest.

On July 22, 2026, Fubara publicly declared support for the Wike-led Rainbow Coalition during the groundbreaking ceremony of Riven Medical Industries in Rumuosi, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

Fubara, who said he had “returned to the family,” also urged his supporters to back the coalition, President Tinubu and the APC governorship candidate, Kingsley Chinda.
Monitoring since then, showed relative calm and peaceful disposition from both camps along side their supporters.

Meanwhile, at the closed-door meeting in Port Harcourt on Tuesday night which lasted about four hours , critical stakeholders and their supporters from the previously feuding camps attended.

Wike and Chinda arrived at the governor’s residence with their supporters earlier and joined Fubara and his team for the discussions.

The meeting marked the first time Fubara would personally host or participate in a reconciliation meeting involving members of the opposing political camps, a development seen as significant to the emerging rapprochement in the state.

At the end of the meeting however, none of the participants addressed journalists afterwards.
Neither Wike, Chinda and their supporters nor Fubara and his team disclosed details of the discussions or the specific outcome of the meeting.

The FCT Minister had earlier said he anticipated Fubara’s return to the political family, arguing that the governor had no viable political alternative outside the platform that brought him to power.

“He has publicly stated that he has returned to where he started, and we receive him with an open mind,” Wike said.

“There is nothing to hide. We will all work together to ensure that we deliver the votes President Tinubu needs for his return.”

Speaking on the development, the labour party State chairman said, Wike had demonstrated that political leadership could transcend party lines.

He said: “Wike is a political colossus, a man of history. While lesser men went to sleep and hid in fear, he stood tall when it mattered most.
“Publicly campaigning for another political party, particularly President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while delivering massive infrastructural development in the FCT, shows that Wike is a man to beat and a man who will always concentrate on delivering Rivers State and Nigeria to President Tinubu.

“What Wike has demonstrated with his Rainbow Coalition is that governance is bigger than party. While others preach unity, he practices it. While others play the politics of exclusion and winner-takes-all, Wike has opened his doors to competent Rivers men and women regardless of party affiliation because the interest of Rivers State is greater than any party flag.

“This is all-inclusive politics at its best. No one is left behind. That is leadership. That is why he is the National Leader of the Rainbow Coalition.”

On the recent statement attributed to the APC Governors Forum, Nwoje alleged that the governors were uncomfortable with Wike’s growing political influence, saying they should instead focus on their respective states.

“Their statement is borne out of fear and political laziness. These are men who failed to leave any enduring legacy in their states and now they have formed themselves into a forum of idle noise-makers to attack a man who is working,” he said.

Nwoje challenged the governors to openly confront Wike and the coalition politically if they believed he had no political influence.
“If they think Chief Wike has no political value, they should stop crying behind closed doors. Come out openly to the political field, campaign against him and his coalition, and let Nigerians see how you all will be roundly defeated even in your states,” he said.

Nwoje also urged Labour Party members, leaders and candidates across the 23 local government areas to remain calm and focused, assuring them that the party would play a major role in the emerging coalition.

“I want to assure them that Labour Party is not a spectator in this coalition. We are a major stakeholder,” he said.

He expressed confidence in the leadership of the coalition and the national leadership of the Labour Party, adding that the party would continue to negotiate for what he described as its “fair share” and “rightful place” in the emerging political arrangement.