/ Jul 05, 2026
/ Jul 05, 2026

Rivers drama deepens as Fubara exits APC governorship race

Published on

By

Governor Siminalayi Fubara has withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress governorship primary in Rivers State, deepening the political drama surrounding the party’s nationwide primaries ahead of the 2027 elections.

 

According to Punch Newspapers, Fubara announced his withdrawal late Wednesday, saying the decision was made after consultations and in the interest of peace, unity and stability in Rivers State.

In a statement titled My Decision to Withdraw from the APC Gubernatorial Primaries, the Rivers governor said leadership required sacrifice and that personal ambition must give way to the collective interest of the state.

Fubara also dismissed suggestions that his withdrawal was due to fear or weakness, insisting it was a deliberate move to allow Rivers State move forward peacefully.

The development comes after months of political tension between Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, whose rivalry has dominated Rivers politics since 2023.

The crisis had previously led to emergency rule in Rivers State in 2025 after President Bola Tinubu intervened unsuccessfully in reconciliation efforts between both camps.

Before Fubara’s withdrawal, several politicians considered loyal to him had reportedly been disqualified from legislative primaries, including allies in the Rivers State House of Assembly and National Assembly members believed to support the governor.

Former APC governorship aspirants Tonye Cole and Dakorinama George-Kelly also stepped down from the race, leaving House of Representatives Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda as the sole remaining governorship aspirant in Rivers APC.

Cole said his withdrawal followed consultations with party leaders and was aimed at preserving unity within the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.

Across the country, APC governorship primaries have sparked intense political manoeuvring, with several governors pushing consensus candidates while some aspirants resist pressure to step down.

In Kwara State, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq endorsed Ambassador Yahaya Seriki as his preferred successor, despite opposition from over a dozen aspirants preparing to challenge the move.

In Plateau State, retired military officer Yilcini Bida rejected rumours that he had stepped down for Governor Caleb Mutfwang, insisting he remained fully in the race.

Adamawa State also witnessed mounting tensions as political blocs linked to Governor Ahmadu Fintiri and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu reportedly backed rival governorship aspirants.

The APC is expected to conduct direct primaries in states where consensus arrangements fail, amid fears that unresolved disputes could worsen internal divisions before the governorship elections.

You May Like

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Most Popular

Must Read

Femi Gbajabiamila amid controversy over the PFIPC fake agency scandal.

SGF office linked to PFIPC as fresh documents deepen fake agency scandal

Fresh documents have raised new questions over the Federal Government’s position on the controversial Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), following revelations that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation processed official correspondence linked to the agency months before it was publicly declared fictitious.   According to an exclusive report by Punch Newspapers, official records show that the SGF’s office received and acted on a request for office accommodation submitted in the name of the PFIPC in November 2024. The request was reportedly submitted by the council’s self-styled Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, who is currently facing criminal charges over allegations of forgery, impersonation and operating a non-existent government agency. Documents obtained by Saturday PUNCH showed that the request, dated November 7, 2024, was received by the SGF’s office on November 12 and later forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on November 21 for action. The correspondence, signed by Permanent Secretary of the General Services Office, Nnamdi Maurice Mbaeri, identified the PFIPC as one of three institutions seeking office accommodation from recovered Federal Government properties. In his request, Adeyemi described the PFIPC as a Federal Government investment promotion body tasked with attracting foreign direct investment, coordinating investment-related activities across ministries and positioning Nigeria as a preferred destination for investors. The latest development adds to ongoing controversy surrounding Adeyemi, who is accused of forging appointment documents allegedly bearing the signature of the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila. The Federal Government has listed Gbajabiamila and 10 others as witnesses in the criminal case before the Federal High Court in Abuja. Prosecutors allege Adeyemi and two other suspects, currently at large, created and operated the PFIPC using forged presidential documents and official insignia to gain legitimacy. Investigators also alleged that Adeyemi operated 34 bank accounts, including accounts opened in the names of supposed government agencies, and held meetings with diplomats under the PFIPC banner. The Presidency has maintained that the PFIPC never legally existed. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga recently described the agency as fictitious and defended the government’s position. However, the newly surfaced documents have intensified public scrutiny, with opposition parties, civil society groups and legal experts demanding an independent investigation into how the agency allegedly secured official recognition, staff approvals and budgetary allocations. Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has called for an independent probe into allegations surrounding both Adeyemi and officials linked to the matter, including claims involving accounts allegedly opened with the Central Bank of Nigeria. The Presidency has also vowed to investigate internal collaborators who may have enabled Adeyemi’s activities across government institutions. Presidential aide Temitope Ajayi said security agencies, including the EFCC, DSS and police, had been tasked with uncovering the full extent of the alleged network. The controversy continues to generate questions about oversight failures within government institutions and how the alleged scheme operated for months before being exposed.
Read more

Editor's Pick

Trending News

Newsletter

Enter your email address and receive notifications of news by email.

You have been successfully Subscribed! Ops! Something went wrong, please try again.

© 2026 GongNews. All Rights Reserved.