President Bola Ahmed Tinubu warmly embraced Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, following his speech at the Rainbow Coalition Presidential Campaign Rally in Port Harcourt.
This occurred on Saturday, November 7, at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium during the Rainbow Coalition campaign rally for Tinubu.
As captured in a video, Tinubu stood up from his seat to welcome Fubara with a hug after the governor finished addressing the gathering.
The President was also seen patting Fubara on the back.
The moment came shortly after Fubara publicly pledged to deliver no fewer than three million votes for Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
Addressing the President, the governor credited the political leadership of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for the political arrangement in Rivers State.
“Under the guidance and leadership of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, we will deliver not less than three million votes for you,” Fubara declared.
He also disclosed that the political alliance in the state was bringing together members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the Rainbow Coalition.
“Let me also announce that in Rivers State, we are doing a Rainbow Coalition (APC and PDP),” he added.
Fubara’s remarks underscored his renewed political alignment with Wike, who is coordinating the Rainbow Coalition’s activities in the state.
The governor and the FCT minister had been involved in a prolonged political disagreement that led to a leadership crisis in Rivers State. However, their recent reconciliation has brought them together in support of Tinubu’s second-term ambition.
Fubara also redrew his re-election ambition as part of reconciliation.
The rally was organised to mobilise political support for the President ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Wike playing host to Tinubu during the visit.
Tinubu arrived in Port Harcourt on Saturday after departing Akwa Ibom State, where he had spent Friday commissioning projects executed by Governor Umo Eno’s administration.
He was received at the Obafemi Jeremiah Awolowo International Airport by Vice President Kashim Shettima, several South-South governors, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, and other senior government officials.
Ahead of the President’s arrival, Wike had expressed confidence that the rally would attract more than 70,000 supporters.
Speaking during an inspection of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium on Friday, the minister said Rivers residents were enthusiastic about receiving Tinubu.
“We are highly elated to receive Mr President. Rivers people are very enthusiastic to receive him tomorrow. That is why we have come here to see how prepared we are,” Wike said.
The Rivers rally followed Tinubu’s visit to Akwa Ibom State, where he commissioned the Victor Attah International Airport and other projects executed by the Umo Eno administration.
During the visit, the President recalled his previous professional engagements in Akwa Ibom as an auditor with Mobil before entering politics.
“This is a homecoming for me. I was here in Akwa Ibom as a Mobil auditor. We built Ibeno, developed Eket, did what we had to do,” Tinubu said.
He also commended Governor Eno for completing the airport project, describing the achievement as the fulfilment of a long-standing vision.
