By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has disclosed that key loyalists of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar are now aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as preparations for the 2027 general elections gain momentum, PM News reports.
Speaking during his New Year address, Fubara named former PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; ex-Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara; former Rivers State Governor, Celestine Omehia; and Senator Abiye Sekibo as influential figures who have decided to support Tinubu’s bid for a second term.
The governor hinted that his political position has often put him under pressure, saying he had been subjected to blackmail in several quarters because of his previous associations with Atiku and his supporters.
“When you see a dog barking, it shows it doesn’t understand,” Fubara said, in what appeared to be a veiled response to critics from the camp of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. “We know where we are going, and we have set all the things that are needed to make the journey smooth.”
The development comes on the heels of growing cross-party realignments and signals Atiku’s weakening influence among his former allies ahead of the next general election in 2027.
Ultimately, this declaration could significantly shift the political landscape in Rivers State and the South-South region, traditionally a stronghold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).