Fubara absent as APC screens governors, Tinubu’s lone rival

The All Progressives Congress, APC, on Saturday continued its screening exercise ahead of the 2027 general election with more than 14 governors and several aspirants appearing before party committees, while Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara was absent from the process.

The screening exercise, which began after the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms closed on May 6, is part of preparations for the party primaries scheduled to hold later this month. President Bola Tinubu’s only challenger for the presidential ticket, Stanley Osifo, also participated in the screening.

The APC had earlier announced that primaries for different elective offices would hold in stages, beginning with the House of Representatives on May 15, Senate on May 18, State Houses of Assembly on May 20, governorship on May 21 and the presidential primary on May 23.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, while governorship and state assembly elections are expected to hold on February 6, 2027.

The APC screening committee for serving governors is headed by the party’s National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, alongside National Secretary Surajudeen Basiru.

Governors screened during the exercise included Abba Yusuf of Kano, Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Nasir Idris of Kebbi, Caleb Muftwang of Plateau, Hyacinth Alia of Benue, Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi and Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State.

Others screened were Umar Bago of Niger State, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Bassey Otu of Cross River and Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State, among others.

Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, after his screening, described the process as peaceful and satisfactory. He said the exercise reflected cooperation between governors and the party leadership while also expressing support for President Tinubu’s administration and ongoing economic policies.

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Bauchi governorship aspirant Yusuf Tuggar also spoke after his screening, saying consensus may not work in the Bauchi governorship race due to the growing number of aspirants contesting for the ticket. He advised the party to identify serious aspirants and avoid actions that could affect the credibility of the primary process.

Meanwhile, Stanley Osifo, who is contesting against President Tinubu for the APC presidential ticket, described the screening as fair and thorough. He said he answered all questions asked by the committee and remained committed to the race despite the party leadership’s support for the President.

Attention during the exercise, however, focused on the absence of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who has remained involved in a prolonged political dispute with his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Reports indicated that Fubara’s APC nomination forms were purchased through associates despite opposition from some political figures within the state. By the end of the screening exercise on Friday and Saturday, the governor had still not appeared before the committee.

Reacting to questions about his absence, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda explained that governors handling official state duties were allowed flexibility and could appear before the committee once available within the approved period.

Political discussions around Rivers State also increased after reports that former Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Das George-Kelly, and House of Representatives Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda obtained APC governorship nomination forms.

Former Rivers Commissioner for Education, Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja, later claimed during a radio interview in Port Harcourt that Chinda, who currently belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party, purchased the APC governorship form and that he personally saw documents connected to the submission process.