Fubara Walks Out of APC Screening, Declines to Speak With Journalists

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Saturday reportedly walked out of the screening exercise organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC), refusing to address journalists covering the event.

Eyewitnesses said the governor arrived at the venue amid tight security and held brief consultations with party officials before leaving abruptly without granting interviews to members of the press.

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The development has sparked fresh speculation over the political situation in Rivers State and Fubara’s relationship with key stakeholders within the ruling party. Party sources, however, declined to comment officially on the reason behind his sudden exit from the screening venue.

Journalists stationed at the premises made several attempts to obtain comments from the governor and APC officials, but none was forthcoming as security personnel escorted him out of the venue.

The incident comes amid ongoing political realignments and consultations ahead of future electoral activities within the state and across the country.

Fubara Walks Out of APC Screening, Declines to Speak With Journalists

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has clarified that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s absence from the party’s recent governorship screening exercise ahead of the 2027 elections should not be misunderstood as political withdrawal or internal disagreement. He explained that Fubara remains a recognised member of the APC following his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in late 2025.

Yilwatda noted that the governor’s position within the party structure in Rivers State is still intact, adding that as a sitting governor, Fubara is naturally regarded as a key leader in the state chapter of the APC. However, he stressed that this recognition does not exempt him from the party’s constitutional requirements, including screening and participation in primaries for the governorship ticket.

The APC chairman further explained that Fubara’s absence from the screening was linked to ongoing consultations and internal party arrangements in Rivers State. According to him, the party allows room for internal processes and coordination among stakeholders, which informed the governor’s decision not to physically appear for the exercise at the time.

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Yilwatda also made it clear that no aspirant, including sitting governors, is guaranteed automatic tickets in the APC. He said the party’s established tradition requires all contenders to go through due process, citing previous primaries in other states as evidence of the APC’s commitment to competitive internal democracy ahead of the 2027 elections.

The political environment in Rivers State remains tense due to the long-standing rivalry between Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Although Wike is still a member of the PDP, both political camps continue to influence grassroots structures and party alignments in the state.

Fubara officially joined the APC in December 2025 at a ceremony held in Port Harcourt, where he received his membership card in the presence of senior party leaders. He said the move was aimed at aligning Rivers State with the federal government to promote stability and development.

Despite efforts to project unity, disagreements within the Rivers APC have persisted, particularly over leadership structure and control of party machinery. Wike has repeatedly dismissed claims that Fubara automatically became the APC leader in Rivers State, insisting that leadership is determined by established party structures and grassroots support.

Meanwhile, APC stakeholders in Rivers State are continuing consultations aimed at stabilising the party ahead of the governorship primary and preventing internal divisions before the 2027 elections. Political observers believe the state’s governorship race is shaping up to be one of the most competitive contests in the next general election due to the ongoing rivalry between opposing political blocs.

Rivers 2027: Why Fubara Missed APC Screening — Yilwatda

Lagos 2027: Hamzat Gains Massive Backing as APC Battles Over Running Mate

The political atmosphere ahead of the 2027 Lagos governorship election is becoming increasingly intense as Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, continues to gather strong endorsements from key stakeholders within and outside the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Hamzat’s governorship ambition received a fresh boost following public endorsements from labour unions, influential APC leaders, and top political figures in Lagos State, amid growing mobilisation across party structures ahead of the APC governorship primary.

The latest endorsement came during the 2026 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos, where leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) openly declared support for Hamzat’s candidacy.

Speaking during the event themed “Insecurity, Poverty: Bane of Decent Work,” Lagos NLC Chairperson, Funmi Sessi, described Hamzat as a loyal and experienced public servant capable of sustaining Lagos’ developmental agenda.

According to her, the deputy governor remains “competent, tested and trusted,” adding that his emergence as governor would guarantee continuity in infrastructure development and governance reforms initiated by previous administrations in the state.

Representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the event, Hamzat received loud cheers from workers and supporters as he toured the stadium before addressing the crowd.

The deputy governor appreciated the growing support for his ambition and assured Lagos residents that the state would witness improved development if elected governor in 2027.

“We will not let you down. The developmental trajectory will be improved upon in Lagos. Nobody is ready because the assignment is audacious. But what you have is experience. Having served as Deputy Governor of Lagos under Governor Sanwo-Olu, I’ve learned a lot. I know the room. I know where the kitchen is,” Hamzat said.

Hamzat’s political momentum had earlier increased following endorsements reportedly received from President Bola Tinubu, Governor Sanwo-Olu, and the influential Governance Advisory Council (GAC), regarded as the highest decision-making body within the Lagos APC.

Political sources disclosed that members of the GAC adopted Hamzat as the party’s preferred consensus governorship candidate after consultations involving major stakeholders in the Lagos APC.

The endorsement reportedly received further backing during meetings between Tinubu and Lagos APC leaders in Abuja, where discussions focused on the party’s succession plan ahead of 2027.

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Former Lagos PDP governorship candidate, Dr. Abdulazeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, also aligned with Hamzat’s camp after stepping down from the governorship contest to support the deputy governor’s ambition.

Several grassroots mobilisation groups have since intensified campaigns across Lagos communities, local government areas, and APC ward structures to rally support for Hamzat ahead of the party primaries.

In another major development, Hamzat successfully scaled through the APC governorship screening exercise held in Abuja, clearing the way for him to participate in the party’s forthcoming primary election.

Speaking after the screening, Hamzat explained that the exercise focused on verifying credentials and public service records submitted by aspirants seeking the APC governorship ticket.

“The essence of the screening is to ensure that everything submitted is accurate and verifiable. We submitted all required documents and the committee asked questions based on the information provided,” he stated.

Party insiders disclosed that Hamzat’s performance during the screening further strengthened confidence among APC stakeholders already backing his candidacy.

Despite the growing endorsements, fresh tension has reportedly emerged within the Lagos APC over the choice of Hamzat’s running mate.

Sources within the party revealed that the APC leadership initially considered the Lagos State Secretary to the State Government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, from Badagry Division, for the deputy governorship position.

However, the move allegedly sparked resistance from political stakeholders, traditional rulers, and community leaders in Badagry, who argued that the division deserves the governorship slot rather than the deputy governorship seat.

Badagry leaders reportedly insisted that the area remains the only major division in Lagos yet to produce a state governor since the creation of Lagos State.

Following the backlash, APC leaders are said to be reviewing alternative options as consultations continue across various political blocs in the state.

Meanwhile, another controversy is brewing within the Lagos APC following allegations that former Osun State governor and ex-Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, is attempting to influence the party’s House of Representatives ticket in Oshodi-Isolo Constituency.

The APC Concerned Group in Oshodi-Isolo accused Aregbesola, who was expelled from the party, of sponsoring a preferred candidate against the wishes of party members in the constituency.

The group warned that such interference could trigger fresh internal divisions within the Lagos APC ahead of the 2027 general election.

Political observers believe the coming months may witness intense lobbying, strategic alliances, and renewed power struggles within the Lagos APC as the battle for succession gathers momentum.

Lagos 2027: Hamzat Gains Massive Backing as APC Battles Over Running Mate