Fubara Screened By APC Committee For 2027 Re-election Bid, Says ‘No Comment’ After Exercise

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has finally appeared before the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Screening Committee at the Plateau State Government House Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, ahead of his re-election bid in the 2027 governorship election.

When pressmen approached the governor for his reaction following the screening exercise, Fubara declined to speak, responding with a terse “no comment.”

The screening was conducted by the committee chaired by APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, which is responsible for assessing sitting governors seeking re-election. In a related development, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martins Amaewhule, also appeared before the APC House of Representatives Screening Committee on Sunday as part of his bid for a seat in the National Assembly.

Fubara’s appearance came a day after he was conspicuously absent from the Saturday session of the exercise, alongside Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru and Kwara Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq.

Speaking with journalists after the Saturday screening exercise, Yilwatda said the governors were excused because of official engagements in their respective states. “Any governor who has issues to attend to, we understand. The Governor of Rivers State also has issues to attend to, and we excused him. We know they are chief executives, they are commanders in their states. Anytime you are free, call the screening committee,” he said.

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Fubara was among the 17 serving governors whose credentials were verified and assessed by the committee. The Rivers APC primary election is expected to be a tough contest, as FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has vowed to cripple Fubara’s re-election bid.

Wike disclosed that during the peace talks championed by President Bola Tinubu, Fubara agreed not to seek re-election in 2027 a claim that had fuelled speculation over the governor’s political intentions and raised eyebrows over his initial absence at the APC screening exercise.

Despite Wike’s opposition, a coalition of elders and supporters openly defied the FCT Minister by procuring the APC Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for Fubara. The delegation was led by House of Representatives member Awaj-Inombek Abiante, who said elders and leaders across Rivers State took the decision in the overriding interest of the people.

Reports also indicated that former Commissioner for Education Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja was among those who purchased nomination forms for the governor.

The APC governorship primary for Rivers State is scheduled for May 21, 2026, with INEC fixing the governorship election proper for February 6, 2027.