Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared his support for President Bola Tinubu and the Rainbow Coalition, a political movement led by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Fubara made the declaration on Tuesday during the groundbreaking ceremony for the reconstruction and equipping of the Riven Medical Facility, a public-private sector pharmaceutical factory in Rivers State.

The governor said the prolonged political crisis in the state had come to an end, urging his supporters to unite behind all candidates presented by the coalition.

“I am supporting our Rainbow Coalition. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is our President, and he is the one we are supporting. The governorship candidate is the candidate I am supporting, and anybody who believes in me will support every candidate under the Rainbow Coalition,” Fubara said.

He dismissed suggestions that he should delay aligning with the coalition, insisting that he had already made his choice.

“I am already in the family. I have returned to our family. Give your total support to the coalition. The time of war is over; it is now time for peace, and that peace will take us to another level,” he added.

The governor also ruled out any involvement in activities capable of reigniting political divisions in the state.

“I am not party to anything that will bring any form of disunity in this state. We have done what we need to do, and now we are moving forward,” he said.

Speaking on the Riven Medical Facility project, Fubara reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to its successful execution, saying he agreed to support the investment after receiving assurances on its viability and delivery timeline.

He disclosed that the first phase of the pharmaceutical factory is expected to be completed within three months, describing it as a strategic investment that would promote industrialisation, create employment and position Rivers State as a hub for the production of medical consumables.

According to the governor, the project is expected to stimulate economic activities, attract local and international patronage, and encourage the establishment of complementary industries around the facility.

Fubara pledged the state government’s full support for the investors and urged members of the host community to cooperate with the company to ensure the project’s success.

He also revealed that the state government is currently involved in litigation with several companies over claims exceeding ₦200 billion, stressing that his administration is determined to avoid contractual disputes that could discourage investors.

The governor expressed optimism that the first phase of the project would be ready for commissioning within the next three months.

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has declared his support for the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in the state, Kingsley Chinda.

Fubara also endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office.

The governor equally announced that he has joined the Rainbow Coalition, a political alliance spearheaded by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike.

Fubara made the declaration on Wednesday during the groundbreaking and foundation-laying ceremony of the Rivien Medical Industry project in Rumuosi, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Addressing his supporters, the governor urged them to align with him by joining the Rainbow Coalition.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has told an Abuja Federal High Court that the published data of Nollywood actor and Nigeria Democratic Congress, House of Representatives aspirant, Emeka Ike, was neither classified, sensitive nor confidential information.

INEC made the submission in a counter affidavit deposed to by Anthonia Makwe, an Assistant Director/Data Protection Officer in its Legal Drafting and Clearance Department, in opposition to a suit numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/1272/2026, filed by Emeka Ike at the Abuja Federal High Court on June 15, 2026.

The actor and politician, in the suit he filed against INEC and Lere Olayinka, media aide to Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, is seeking N10 billion for alleged violation of his fundamental right to privacy.

Ike, through his counsel, Leonard Adeh, asked the court to declare that Olayinka’s decision to publish his data on X without his approval amounts to gross breach and violation of his fundamental right to privacy and the protection of personal data.

In the counter affidavit deposed to by Makwe, INEC, which is the second respondent in the suit, informed the court that such information are displayed and published in accordance with the Electoral Act 2026. It added that it has the “statutorily and constitutional function/power to make available information of its voters to the general public without the consent of any registered voter”.

Parts of the counter affidavit read, “In response to paragraph 5 of the Applicant’s Originating Motion, the 2nd Respondent’s statutory responsibility includes the compilation, maintenance, display, publication, certification and management of the register of voters in accordance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act 2026, and the National Data Protection Act 2023.

“The 2nd Respondent has the statutorily and constitutional function/power to make available information of its voters to the general public without the consent of any registered voter.

“The issue complained of is not classified, sensitive nor confidential and that such information are displayed and published in accordance with the Electoral Act 2026.

“What is alleged to be posted by the 1st Respondent on his X platform did not emanate from the 2nd Respondent. The 2nd Respondent, as a Data Controller, has never breached its statutory duty of care, custody and protection of personal voter information and data, it owes the Applicant and other Voters under its secured portal and restricted database.”

Olayinka, had, his own counter affidavit filed by his counsel, Akpama Ekwe, averred that the only information contained in the document he published was the applicant’s name and passport photograph, and that the information was already in the public domain.

He stated, “Contrary to paragraph 6 of the Applicants supporting Affidavit the information published by the 1st Respondent (Lere Olayinka) was already in the public domain and was not accessed through any unlawful means.

“Contrary to paragraph 8 of the Applicant’s Supporting Affidavit, the 1st Respondent does not owe the Applicant any duty of care and confidentiality and does not require the consent of the Applicant to publish the Applicant’s

name and passport photograph that was already in the public domain.

“Contrary to paragraph 10 of the Supporting Affidavit, the Applicant who brought himself to contest election into the Federal House of Representatives, cannot be traumatized by the circulation of his name and passport photograph

which he personally presented to the public when seeking to contest election, and as a Nollywood star.

“Information supplied in voters card is not private data because by the provision of Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, ‘the Commission shall, not latter than 90 days to a general election, appoint a period of seven days during which a copy of the voters register for each Local Government, Area Council or Ward shall be displayed or published for public scrutiny at every registration area and on its official website or every registration area and on its official website or any website established by the Commission for that purpose.

“Contrary to paragraph 11 of the Applicant’s Supporting Affidavit, the only information contained in the document published by the 1st Respondent was the Applicant’s name, and passport photograph.”

The suit has been adjourned till October 12, 2026, for hearing.