The All Progressives Congress (APC) has declined to confirm whether Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara was formally screened during its ongoing governorship aspirants’ screening exercise, fuelling fresh speculation over his political standing within the party.
The uncertainty follows a tense screening session in Abuja that has drawn heightened attention due to Mr Fubara’s prolonged political rift with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, avoided giving a direct answer when asked by journalists whether the governor had successfully completed the screening process.
He said the committee had concluded interactions with all aspirants and would submit its report in due course.
“I don’t know what you mean by ‘screen’… After appearing before the screening committee, the screening committee will issue its report,” Basiru said, adding that no official outcome had yet been released.
His comments have further deepened uncertainty about the governor’s status ahead of the party’s governorship primary in Rivers State.
Late Arrival, Brief Appearance
Unlike other incumbent governors who reportedly completed their screening without controversy, Mr Fubara arrived late at the Plateau Governors’ Lodge in Abuja, the venue of the exercise, at about 3 p.m.
He appeared before the APC Governorship Screening Committee chaired by the party’s National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda.
Sources said the governor spent about 20 minutes inside the screening room before leaving with a tense expression.
When approached by journalists afterward, Mr Fubara declined to comment, simply saying, “No comment,” before exiting the venue.
Rivers Power Struggle in the Background
The uncertainty comes amid the prolonged political conflict between Mr Fubara and his predecessor, Mr Wike, which has dominated Rivers State politics since 2023.
The dispute, initially triggered by control over the state’s political structure and appointments, escalated into a full-blown crisis that split the state House of Assembly and led to violent political confrontations and repeated interventions by national authorities.
Although President Bola Tinubu brokered a temporary peace deal between both camps, the truce eventually collapsed, with renewed hostilities and legal battles following the defection of lawmakers aligned with Mr Wike to the APC.
The situation has since reshaped political alliances in the state, with Mr Wike now playing a prominent role in APC national politics while maintaining influence over loyalists in Rivers.
Uncertainty Ahead of Primaries
Mr Fubara’s engagement with the APC screening process has intensified speculation about his political future, particularly given the unresolved tensions between him and Mr Wike.
Political observers say the outcome of the screening exercise could determine not only his eligibility for the party’s governorship ticket but also the next phase of the ongoing power struggle in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
