Rivers Rally: APC Deputy Chairman, TMS Leaders Hail Cross-Party Mobilisation for Tinubu
The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Benjamin Obi Nwoye, has described the turnout at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s campaign rally in Port Harcourt as a demonstration of growing cross-party cooperation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Nwoye, who also serves as National Coordinator (South) of the Tinubu Movement for Sustainable Governance Foundation (TMS), popularly known as Tinubu Must Stay, expressed satisfaction with the participation of APC members, supporters of other political parties and various interest groups at the rally held at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Rivers State.
He said the gathering, organised to welcome President Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima, reflected what he described as increasing recognition of the administration’s policies and development initiatives beyond traditional party affiliations.
According to Nwoye, the campaign for the Tinubu-Shettima ticket should not be viewed exclusively as an APC affair but as an opportunity for Nigerians to assess the administration’s performance, policy direction and development priorities.
“The rally showed strength in the South-South and set a bold target for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election,” Nwoye said.
He particularly commended the Rainbow Coalition, a cross-party political arrangement associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for bringing together supporters from APC and Peoples Democratic Party networks in Rivers State.
Nwoye argued that the coalition offered the ruling party an opportunity to engage political constituencies beyond its traditional membership, particularly in a state historically associated with strong PDP influence.
Another APC leader and South-East Cordinator of TMS, Professor Chinedu Ochinanwata welcomed the public appearance of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Wike at the rally, interpreting President Tinubu’s remarks concerning both political leaders as an encouraging development for reconciliation following prolonged political disagreements in the state.
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The APC leader said cooperation among major political actors could help consolidate peace while creating a more stable environment for governance and development.
Professor Ochinanwata highlighted infrastructure, education, healthcare, youth empowerment and economic reforms as key issues surrounding the administration’s campaign. He referenced federal interventions identified by the Rivers State Government, including the Bonny-Bodo Road and investments in education, as examples cited by supporters of the administration.
Also reacting to the rally, TMS Director of Mobilisation and Membership, Engr. Ibrahim Uba, commended the participation of supporters from different political, cultural and religious backgrounds, describing the turnout as evidence of the capacity of political organisations to mobilise across established party lines.
“At TMS, we must commend the spirit behind the Rainbow Coalition, which confirmed Wike as the chief mobiliser in Rivers, leading a cross-party APC-PDP alliance for Tinubu, with a massive, well-organised turnout at Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium,” Uba said.
He maintained that the mobilisation challenged suggestions that President Tinubu’s political support was confined to established APC structures.
Uba also cited oil and gas, education, healthcare, transportation, road infrastructure and security as areas supporters believe should feature prominently in public assessment of the administration’s performance.
The trio of Nwoye, Ochinanwata and Uba reaffirmed TMS’s commitment to grassroots engagement ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly in the South-South, saying the movement would continue working with political stakeholders and community networks to promote awareness of government programmes and encourage peaceful electoral participation.
During the rally, President Tinubu thanked Rivers voters for their support in the 2023 presidential election and encouraged eligible citizens to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and participate in the electoral process.
The President also highlighted education, youth development, skills acquisition, infrastructure and economic reforms as priorities of his administration, while presenting continuity as a central theme of his campaign.
By PRNigeria
