Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara
BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS
The All Progressives Congress (APC) screening exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections witnessed the absence of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, even as the party screened over 14 governors seeking re-election and other elective positions.
Frontline Reporters gathered that President Bola Tinubu’s only challenger for the APC presidential ticket, Stanley Osifo, also appeared before the screening panel in Abuja.
The APC had commenced the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms on April 28, with the exercise ending on May 6. Screening of aspirants began on May 8 and is expected to conclude today, May 10.
The party adopted both consensus and direct primary options in line with the Electoral Act 2025. According to the timetable released by the APC, House of Representatives primaries will hold on May 15, Senate primaries on May 18, State Assembly primaries on May 20, governorship primaries on May 21, while the presidential primary is fixed for May 23.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will take place on February 6, 2027.
The APC screening committee for serving governors is headed by the party’s National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, with National Secretary Surajudeen Basiru serving as secretary.
Governors screened include Abba Yusuf of Kano, Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Nasir Idris of Kebbi, Caleb Muftwang of Plateau, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia of Benue, Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Umar Bago of Niger, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Bassey Otu of Cross River, and Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State.
A senior APC official, who spoke anonymously, confirmed that more than 14 governors had so far undergone screening, describing the process as smooth and ongoing.
Speaking after his screening, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, commended the exercise and praised the synergy between APC governors and the party’s National Working Committee.
He expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s leadership, insisting that despite economic challenges, there are visible signs of improvement across the country.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel,” Eno said, adding that Tinubu deserves a second term to consolidate ongoing reforms and national development efforts.
Meanwhile, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Bauchi State governorship aspirant, Yusuf Tuggar, dismissed the possibility of consensus in the APC governorship race in Bauchi, citing the growing number of aspirants.
Tuggar urged the party leadership to identify genuinely committed aspirants and guard against manipulation of the primary process through last-minute alliances and questionable political arrangements.
The Kwara State governorship aspirant, Abdul Fatai Yahya, also declared readiness to participate under any primary method approved by the party.
Similarly, presidential aspirant Stanley Osifo described the APC screening process as thorough but fair. He confirmed that he was questioned about his decision to challenge the incumbent president for the party’s ticket but maintained that he remains fully committed to the race despite Tinubu’s endorsement by party leaders.
Other governors seeking senatorial seats, including Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma, were also screened during the exercise.
However, the absence of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara attracted significant attention.
Sources within the APC disclosed that Fubara, who has been embroiled in a prolonged political battle with his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, reportedly obtained the party’s nomination forms through proxies despite alleged opposition from Wike’s camp.
By the end of the screening sessions on Friday and Saturday, Fubara had yet to appear before the committee.
Reacting to questions over the governor’s absence, APC National Chairman and screening committee chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, explained that governors with pressing official engagements were granted exemptions.
He said, “Three governors have not appeared before the committee, and they all have genuine reasons. As chief executives of their states, they may have urgent responsibilities to attend to. Whenever they are available within the stipulated timeframe, the committee will provide another opportunity for screening.”
Frontline Reporters further gathered that some influential Rivers politicians, led by House of Representatives member Awaj-Inombek Abiante and former Commissioner for Education, Dr. Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja, reportedly purchased APC nomination forms for Fubara.
However, it remains unclear whether the governor personally accepted or endorsed the forms.
At the same time, former Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Das George-Kelly, and House of Representatives Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, were also reported to have obtained APC governorship nomination forms for the 2027 race.
Speaking on a Port Harcourt radio programme, Gogo-Jaja alleged that Chinda, despite being a Peoples Democratic Party member, purchased an APC governorship form.
“Kingsley Chinda is still the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, yet he obtained an APC governorship nomination form. I saw his name among those who bought the forms,” he claimed.
ADVERTISEMENTS
