Former Chairman of Ohio/Akpor Local Government, Chidjoki Ihunwo has insisted that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara directed political stakeholders in the state to join the Rainbow Coalition and work together to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the 2027 general election.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Ihunwo explained that the governor’s directive brought political stakeholders together, including members of the APC, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party and Action Peoples Party (APP), to promote peace and development in the state.
“The governor of Rivers State, he is my direct principal, he has told us, look, we want peace in our state, all of us, all of us, should be part of the Rainbow Coalition, and we have accepted, as a family, that we are going to support the candidates of APC.”
He underscored that the coalition was not confused, as alleged by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Dr Gabriel Pidomson. “My boss, who is the governor of Rivers State, is also part of the Rainbow Coalition. And the leader of that group in our state here is the governor, and then the minister is the national leader of the Rainbow Coalition.”
Ihunwo stated that the political agreement included support for the APC governorship candidate, whom he identified as Kinsley Ogundu-Chinda. “We’ve agreed to support the candidate of the APC, Kinsley Ogundu-Chinda, for the governor of Rivers State come 2027. So there is no confusion anywhere.”
He described Ogundu-Chinda as a popular candidate with the capacity to govern the state and said political stakeholders had agreed to work towards his victory. “All of us have agreed as a team that we must deliver Kinsley Ogundu-Chinda in the 2027 General Election. This is an agreement that all of us had, including the minister of FCT, who is the leader of the Rainbow Coalition, that we are going to support Kinsley Ogundu-Chinda, including the governor, who is also my principal.”
Ihunwo disclosed that he had returned to his political family and was following the governor’s directive rather than pursuing a separate political alignment. “Whether I am there before now, or not, we are back to our political family, all of us are one. I didn’t go to any other party, I’m not in the SDP, I’m not in… We came back, and I said, look, we must move our state forward.”
He acknowledged that he served both Fubara and Wike, describing the governor as his principal and the FCT minister as the political leader of the state. “The governor is my oga. And our leader is the FCT minister. People have said these favours everywhere. Yes, the two of them, I’m serving the two of them.”
When asked whether Ihunwo was comfortable being described as a political follower of the two leaders. “Whether you call me boy-boy, but let me tell you that we are together and we are moving forward.”
He also said he was not yet 40 years old and believed he had more time to pursue leadership opportunities in politics. “I am not up to 40 years. So, if there is anything happening in politics, there is no problem. Let me be serving the two masters and my house-boy work. No problem.”
Ihunwo also rejected allegations by the ADC governorship candidate that Rivers State had failed to make meaningful progress in the past 12 years. “Pidomson had criticised the state’s infrastructure development, including the state of pipe-borne water, and questioned the government’s record.
Development is ongoing in Rivers State. There is the ongoing ring-route in Rivers State because everybody is SLC, Sarsen Aleph. But our project is ongoing.”
“There is a lot of infrastructural development going on in the state. The state is moving forward. A lot of developments, schools being built by the governor, roads and other… I mean, the Rivers State is very peaceful as of today.”
He accused the ADC candidate of making claims to attract voters and misinform the public. “He has the power to be governor. Has he also sat down? He has been in government and he has gone to assembly and all that. What did he do for the people of Gokana Local Government where he comes from?”
Ihunwo further credited Fubara’s administration with maintaining peace in the state through its engagement with security agencies. “River State is very peaceful as of today.”
Erizia Rubyjeana
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