Fubara displeased with poor reception after APC screening
By Omeiza Ajayi
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara was screened by the All Progressives Congress APC at its governorship aspirants screening exercise Sunday, but left visibly displeased with the reception he received, casting fresh uncertainty over his political future with the ruling party.
The party has now screened two Rivers State governorship aspirants — Fubara and a member of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda — for the APC governorship primary election in the state.
Fubara had barely spent 20 minutes with the committee before storming out, refusing to grant any media interview. His mien showed that all was not well.
The screening committee is expected to come up with a comprehensive report of the exercise so the aspirants could know their fate and whether to lodge an appeal with the Screening Appeal Committee.
APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, responding to journalists who pressed him on the matter, gave a carefully worded answer that neither confirmed nor denied Fubara’s appearance before the screening panel.
“I don’t know what you mean by screen. Anybody who appears before the screening committee, of course, is necessary as part of the process. After appearing before the screening committee, the screening committee will issue its report. As of now, the screening committee, having completed seeing everybody it is supposed to see, will now sit down and come out with its report. As of now, there is no report of the screening committee,” Basiru said.
The evasive response deepened the suspense surrounding Fubara, whose political fate has been one of the most keenly watched subplots of the APC’s 2027 governorship preparations.
Elsewhere at the screening exercise, Plateau State governorship aspirant Commander Yilchini Jan Bida (retd), declared that the process validated the party’s commitment to internal democracy.
“The process went well. It shows that APC is a party that believed in internal democracy. They want to create an open field, a level playing ground for anybody who feels he has something to offer to his state to participate in the election,” Bida said.
The retired commander expressed near-certainty about his chances at the primaries, staking his confidence on what he described as an outpouring of grassroots support from Plateau people.
“I am confident so much that there is going to be a direct primary. They have handed over the power to the people to decide who becomes the governor. So Plateau people are behind me. They are waiting for me to be back home. And hopefully I will be sworn in as governor of Plateau come May 29, 2027.
“When I picked up my forms the people of Plateau were celebrating and jubilating for me because they know my capability. When I submitted my forms they celebrated it. And I can assure you that this evening there is going to be celebration on the Plateau because I have just been screened sufficiently and successfully. So Plateau people are waiting for me and hopefully all of us will all smile for the victory when I am announced from the primaries,” he said.
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