Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared an end to political hostilities in the state, calling on political leaders and their supporters to embrace peace, reconciliation and unity in the interest of development.
The governor made the declaration on Saturday, November 7, 2026, during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Port Harcourt, where he assured President Bola Tinubu of Rivers State’s support ahead of the 2027 general election.
Addressing a large gathering of party faithful and supporters, Fubara said Rivers State had endured prolonged political disagreements and confrontations, which had hindered development and caused unnecessary hardship for residents.
He maintained that the state could no longer afford the divisions and political battles of the past, stressing that the priority should now be rebuilding the state and improving the welfare of its people.
“The time of war is over; it’s time for peace. We cannot continue to fight and expect the state to move forward,” he said.
According to the governor, political leaders and their followers must be prepared to forgive one another, put their differences aside and work collectively towards the progress of Rivers State.
He lamented that ordinary citizens had borne the greatest burden of the political crisis, while political actors engaged in prolonged struggles for power and influence.
“We have wasted enough time fighting. Now is the time to build. Now is the time to work for the people,” Fubara added.
Fubara described the rally as evidence that Rivers State had entered a new political chapter, noting that leaders who were previously at loggerheads were now sharing the same political platform.
He also expressed appreciation to Tinubu for his intervention during the state’s political crisis, describing the President’s actions as evidence of concern for Rivers State.
The governor subsequently pledged that Rivers would deliver at least three million votes for Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, scheduled for January 16, 2027.
“Rivers will give you three million votes. We will stand by you. We will work for you. We will deliver for you,” he declared.
He insisted that the state was firmly behind the President, adding that Rivers people would demonstrate their support through the ballot box rather than mere political declarations.
“We are not just talking. We will show it with our votes. Rivers people know how to keep their word,” he said.
Fubara urged party supporters and political stakeholders to return to their respective wards and polling units to commence grassroots mobilisation, stressing that the ambitious electoral target could only be achieved through sustained engagement with voters.
The rally, held at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, was organised by the Rainbow Coalition, led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
It attracted several prominent political figures, including Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda and other national and state political leaders.
Tinubu, in his address, commended the reconciliation between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, describing the governor’s decision to embrace peace as a demonstration of maturity and respect for the intervention of political elders.
The public reconciliation between the two political leaders marks a significant development in Rivers State politics following the prolonged disagreement that divided the state’s political establishment and culminated in a state of emergency in March 2025.
With the emergence of the Rainbow Coalition and the renewed alliance among previously opposing political interests, attention is now expected to shift towards how effectively the political rapprochement will translate into lasting stability, governance and development in Rivers State.
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