ABUJA, Nigeria – High-stakes political drama unfolded in the nation’s capital today as the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, abruptly stormed out of the All Progressives Congress (APC) screening exercise. The Governor, who recently defected from the PDP to the APC, left the venue with a visible look of dissatisfaction, shielding himself from a swarm of eager journalists and refusing to answer questions regarding his 2027 reelection bid.
The Walkout: What Happened in the Room?
Witnesses at the screening center in Abuja report that Governor Fubara arrived in high spirits but left less than an hour later. Tensions reportedly flared during the closed-door session with the APC Screening Committee, chaired by Mauriana Ajibola.
While the official reason for his sudden exit remains under wraps, sources close to the Governor suggest he was “blindsided” by certain requirements and the presence of a “pre-approved” list of aspirants that allegedly sought to undermine his authority as the leader of the party in Rivers State.
The Crux of the Matter: A Party Divided
The “crux” of the matter lies in a bitter internal power struggle for the soul of the Rivers State APC. Despite Fubara’s incumbency, he is facing a fierce “cold war” from loyalists of the former Governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, who—despite being in the PDP—maintains a massive influence over the APC structure in the state.
Verified reports indicate a major fracture within the screening committee itself. Just hours before the Governor’s walkout, the Secretary of the Rivers APC Screening Committee, Hon. Tanko Yamowa, publicly denounced and rejected a circulated list of “cleared” and “disqualified” candidates, labeling the document as “false and unauthorized.” This confusion over who is actually eligible to run on the APC ticket has thrown Fubara’s reelection plans into a tailspin.
What is Happening to Fubara’s Reelection Plans?
Governor Fubara’s path to a second term is currently a political minefield.
- The Ticket Fight: To secure the APC ticket, Fubara must overcome an “old guard” within the party that views him as an outsider who recently jumped ship from the PDP.
- The “Parallel List” Sabotage: The emergence of conflicting lists of cleared candidates suggests that a faction of the party is actively working to disqualify Fubara’s key allies, potentially leaving him as a “General without an army.”
- The Wike Factor: The Minister of the FCT remains the elephant in the room. If Fubara cannot consolidate the APC structure in Rivers, his reelection bid may be forced into another party, or he may face a primary defeat from within.
Silence Speaks Volumes
As the Governor’s motorcade sped away from the Abuja venue, the silence was deafening. By refusing to speak to journalists, Fubara has signaled that he is not in a “business-as-usual” mood.
Political analysts suggest that Fubara’s “storm out” may be a calculated move to report the committee’s conduct directly to the Presidency or the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, bypass the local bottlenecks, and secure his political future.
Will Fubara survive the APC internal “ambush,” or is his reelection dream hitting a brick wall?
Stay tuned to ABT NEWS (www.abtnews.net) for more verified updates as this story develops.
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