Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting with Siminalayi Fubara, Rivers State Governor, and leaders of the SIMplified Movement, the governor’s support group, in an apparent effort to close ranks ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Wike and leaders of the Rainbow Coalition met Fubara and his supporters, including some former local government council chairmen who formed the backbone of his grassroots support base, at the governor’s residence in Port Harcourt.
Details of the meeting were not immediately available to the media. However, reports that emerged on social media hours later suggested that the meeting was part of a reconciliation drive aimed at strengthening the Wike-led Rainbow Coalition’s prospects of securing victory for President Bola Tinubu and Kingsley Chinda in 2027.
Analysts noted that the meeting appeared to be the first-time core leaders of the SIMplified Movement had participated in a reconciliation meeting with leaders of the Rainbow Coalition.
The engagement followed years of political disagreements that pitted both camps against each other, including a prolonged dispute between the governor and the Rivers State House of Assembly.
It however signalled a possible reconciliation between the two factions under the Rainbow Coalition.
Social media reports claimed that Fubara, in his remarks at the meeting, “emphasised the importance of continuous engagement among political actors, noting that open dialogue remained essential for stability and development in Rivers State.
“Members of the Rainbow Coalition expressed appreciation for the governor’s gesture, describing the invitation as a positive step towards bridging divides and building consensus on critical issues facing the state,” the report said.
A more detailed account attributed to Chijioke Ihunwo, a known Fubara loyalist and former chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Wike’s home LGA, said the meeting brought together political stakeholders from both camps.
“It was a moment that brought together political stakeholders, as supporters of Nyesom Wike and Sir Siminalayi Fubara met at the private residence of the executive governor,” Ihunwo said.
“We talked, shared perspectives and engaged in meaningful dialogue in the interest of achieving and sustaining absolute peace in Rivers State.
“I was present at the gathering, and it gave me the opportunity to witness firsthand the conversations and interactions shaping the state’s political landscape.
“Rivers State remains our collective responsibility. Regardless of our political differences, we must all join hands, work together and contribute our quota towards building a peaceful, united and prosperous Rivers State.
“Peace should always come first. Rivers State belongs to all of us,” he said.
Ihunwo’s comments appear to confirm what analysts have described as deepening reconciliation between the SIMplified Movement and the Rainbow Coalition, with a growing number of Fubara’s loyalists expressing willingness to work for the coalition’s candidates
