Fubara Cleared For APC Governorship Primaries Amid Rising Rivers Political Tensions

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has been successfully screened and cleared by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to participate in the party’s governorship primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The screening exercise took place on Sunday at the Plateau Governors Lodge in Abuja, where the governor appeared before the APC screening committee alongside other aspirants seeking the party’s ticket.

Fubara was among three serving governors whose credentials and eligibility were assessed by the committee. His clearance now officially positions him for the APC governorship primary election scheduled for May 21, 2026.

The development marks a significant step in the governor’s widely discussed political realignment and intensifies the unfolding power struggle in Rivers State politics.

Governor Fubara, who has been embroiled in a prolonged political rift with his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had earlier secured APC Expression of Interest and Nomination forms through proxies.

The forms were reportedly purchased and presented by a coalition of Rivers APC stakeholders and elders led by Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, who argued that Fubara deserves a second term to consolidate ongoing development projects and maintain political stability in the state.

However, the governor’s move into the APC and his re-election bid have continued to generate sharp reactions within the Rivers political landscape, particularly among loyalists of Wike, many of whom are believed to be opposed to Fubara’s growing influence within the ruling party.

Meanwhile, the APC governorship contest in Rivers is expected to be fiercely competitive, as Kingsley Chinda, a prominent ally of Wike and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, has also reportedly been screened and cleared for the primaries.

Political observers believe the contest could shape the future balance of power in Rivers State and determine the direction of the APC ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

According to the APC timetable, governorship primaries across the country are scheduled for May 21, 2026, while other National and State Assembly primaries are expected to hold in phases throughout the month.

Nigeria’s governorship and State Assembly elections are slated for February 6, 2027.