Fubara Storms Out of APC Screening, Snubs Journalists Amid Wike Tension

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara walked out of his All Progressives Congress screening on Sunday after barely 20 minutes, refusing to speak to journalists who had waited hours for him.

The screening took place at the Plateau Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, where an APC committee led by party chairman Nentawe Yilwatda has been interviewing governors seeking the party’s 2027 ticket.

Fubara emerged from the venue visibly tense, climbed into his official vehicle and was gone. When reporters asked how it went, he replied “No comment.” He did not receive the ceremonial send-off that accompanied other governors screened earlier.

APC National Secretary Ajibola Basiru sidestepped questions about whether Fubara had been cleared. “Anyone who appears before the committee does so as a necessary part of the process,” he said. “Once the committee has seen everyone, they will sit down and produce a report. As of now, there is no report.”

The Wike problem

The walkout is the latest development in the long-running feud between Fubara and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who appointed Fubara as governor before the relationship collapsed spectacularly.

Wike has openly opposed Fubara’s re-election bid and recently claimed the governor had privately agreed to step aside as part of a peace deal brokered by President Tinubu during last year’s impeachment crisis.

“President Tinubu intervened in the impeachment proceedings and the governor agreed to peace, even saying he was no longer interested in contesting again. Now, after that intervention, you are playing smart on what was agreed,” Wike said.

Other aspirants in the race

Fubara’s camp insists his nomination forms were purchased by a coalition of Rivers stakeholders. But he is not the only name in the ring. George-Kelly Alabo and Kingsley Chinda have also obtained APC governorship forms, with Alabo alleging that Chinda is still a PDP member and therefore ineligible for APC nomination.

INEC has scheduled governorship primaries between April 23 and May 30, 2026, with campaigns set to begin September 9.

Sources: Punch, Sahara Reporters, BusinessDay, Premium Times, Legit.ng