Tension as Fubara Walks Out of APC Screening, Declines Media Interview

Fresh uncertainty has emerged over the political future of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, following his dramatic exit from the All Progressives Congress (APC) screening exercise in Abuja on Sunday.

The screening, held at the Plateau State Governor’s Lodge, had earlier seen several incumbent governors successfully cleared by the party’s screening committee on Saturday. However, Fubara was noticeably absent from the initial exercise, fuelling speculation over his political standing within the party.

The governor eventually arrived at the venue around 3pm on Sunday but spent barely 20 minutes inside the screening room before walking out.

Eyewitnesses said Fubara appeared visibly upset as he left the venue. The governor declined to speak with journalists who had waited for hours to interview him.

Responding briefly to questions from reporters on how the screening went, Fubara simply said: “No comment.”

Observers at the venue also noted a departure from the usual practice in which members of the screening committee escort governors and other high-profile aspirants out of the hall after their sessions.

In Fubara’s case, no committee member accompanied him out of the venue. Sources said members of the panel only exited the room several minutes after the governor had left.

Sunday’s session was presided over by the APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Ali Dalori.

Fubara’s appearance comes amid his prolonged political rift with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, who is widely regarded as his estranged political mentor.

There have been growing claims within political circles that Wike is backing the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, as a possible replacement for Fubara in the 2027 governorship race.

Unconfirmed reports also suggest that one of Wike’s sons may be positioned to contest for Chinda’s current seat representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

Sources within the party disclosed that Chinda was reportedly the first aspirant screened on Saturday for the APC governorship ticket.

Speaking after the exercise, APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, said the screening process was still ongoing and declined to confirm whether Fubara had successfully scaled through the exercise.

“I don’t know what you mean by ‘screened.’ Anyone who appears before the committee does so as a necessary part of the process. Once the committee has seen everyone, they will sit down and produce a report. As of now, there is no report from the screening committee,” Basiru stated.

Earlier on Saturday, APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, had defended Fubara’s absence from the earlier session, attributing it to official engagements.

Yilwatda explained that the governors of Kwara and Ebonyi states were also absent due to pressing state matters.

“Why single one person out? Three governors have not appeared yet, and they all have their reasons. They are chief executives with urgent issues to attend to,” he said.

The APC chairman added that the party remained flexible with the schedules of governors participating in the screening process.

“Anytime they are free, they can call the committee and we will screen them at their convenience,” he stated.