A key political figure in Rivers State has thrown his weight behind a surprising alliance, signaling a major shift in the state’s turbulent political landscape. Chijioke Ihunwo, a former Chairman of the Caretaker Committee in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area and a close ally of Governor Sim Fubara, has publicly committed to backing the Rainbow Coalition and President Bola Tinubu’s reelection bid in 2027.
Ihunwo’s announcement, made during an appearance on TVC’s Beyond the Headlines, marks a notable pivot for a man long seen as a staunch Fubara loyalist. He framed the decision not as a betrayal, but as a direct response to the governor’s recent calls for reconciliation and unity across the state. The Rainbow Coalition, a political force led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has often been at odds with Fubara’s camp, making Ihunwo’s pledge all the more striking.
“Our governor has said there is peace in Rivers State and that we need to move forward,” Ihunwo said, explaining his reasoning. “If you really back him, you need to stand with him in the Rainbow Coalition. That is what we are doing to bring peace back to our state.”
He was unequivocal about his loyalty to Fubara, describing the governor as his principal. “No matter what he tells me to do, I will follow his instructions,” Ihunwo stated. “We are going to work together to make sure every member of the Rainbow Coalition gets elected, including President.”
Ihunwo also revealed that the governor has directed his supporters to rally behind Tinubu and all coalition candidates. He pledged to return to Obio/Akpor to mobilize grassroots support ahead of the 2027 elections, a move that could reshape the political calculus in the oil-rich state.
The development underscores the fluid nature of Rivers State politics, where alliances are often forged in the crucible of pragmatic necessity. For now, Ihunwo’s promise signals a potential thaw in the frosty relations between rival factions, even as the state braces for the electoral battles to come.
