Fubara Pulls Out As APC Holds Gov Primaries In 28 States Today

|  Rivers gov says peace, stability of state greater than personal interest

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has  withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries scheduled to hold today, Thursday, 21 May 2026.

In a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, the governor said he would support whoever emerges as the party’s governorship candidate.

Fubara, in the statement, explained that his decision followed deep reflection and wide consultations.

“Fellow Rivers people, after deep reflection and extensive consultations with my family, friends, and associates, I have taken the difficult but necessary decision to withdraw from the APC gubernatorial primaries,” he said.

He added that his decision was guided by a sense of duty and the need to prioritise collective interest over personal ambition.

“I do so with a full heart and with a firm commitment to support whoever emerges as the candidate of our great party,” the statement continued.

“Leadership is ultimately about sacrifice. There comes a time when personal ambition must yield to the greater good of the people. Rivers State is bigger than any individual, and at this critical moment, the peace, stability, and unity of our dear state must take precedence over every personal interest.”

Addressing his supporters, the governor expressed appreciation for their loyalty and sacrifices throughout his political journey.

“To my supporters who stood firmly with me throughout this journey, who gave their time, resources, prayers, and unwavering hope, I offer my deepest gratitude,” he said.

“I understand the disappointment, the anger, and the pain many of you may feel. Much has indeed been invested and much sacrificed along the way. But please know that your loyalty and trust were never in vain.”

He also described his silence in recent weeks as intentional and strategic.

“My silence over this period was deliberate and strategic, guided always by the higher interest of our state and our people.”

Using a traditional analogy, Fubara added: “As our elders say, not everything a hunter sees in the forest is spoken of in the marketplace. Some truths are best borne quietly, not out of fear, but out of wisdom and restraint for the sake of peace and a greater purpose. It is enough to say that I have faced immense pressures and difficult choices, but my love for Rivers State remains greater than anything else.”

The governor thanked the APC for the platform and also acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support.

“I sincerely thank our great party, the All Progressives Congress, for the platform and support extended to me throughout this process. I also express my profound appreciation to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his support and encouragement.”

He urged party members to remain united as the primaries proceed.

“The APC remains our collective home, and I urge all party faithful and supporters to remain steadfast and committed as we continue to build a stronger and more united future together.”

Clarifying his position, he insisted his withdrawal should not be interpreted as weakness.

“Let it be clearly understood that I stepped aside from participating in the upcoming Rivers State gubernatorial election not out of weakness, fear, or surrender, but out of conviction and sacrifice so that Rivers State may move forward in peace and unity, and I remain committed to serving the good people of Rivers State till the end of my term.”

Meanwhile, attempts to confirm the authenticity of the statement proved unsuccessful, as aides to the governor said they could not comment on a statement not issued on official state government letterhead.

APC Gov Primaries: 15 States Embrace  Consensus, 13 Hold Direct Polls

Meanwhile, the political atmosphere is charged across 28 states of the federation where the All Progressives Congress (APC) is conducting its governorship primaries today with 15 states opting for a consensus arrangement and 13 bracing for election.

Apart from eight states — Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Kogi, Ondo, Osun, and Imo — where governorship elections are off-season, the APC is set to nominate candidates who will fly its flag in the remaining 28 states for the February 6, 2027 governorship polls.

Several aspirants, including serving governors seeking second terms; former governors planning a comeback; lawmakers, former ministers, top government functionaries, business moguls, retired military and paramilitary officers, among other notable Nigerians, have procured the APC expression of interest and nomination forms.

After obtaining the N50 million nomination forms, the aspirants underwent a screening exercise, the results of which had yet to be released at the time of going to press.

The APC had insisted that the date for its governorship primaries is sacrosanct; hence, the exercise will proceed as scheduled, it’s  national publicity secretary, Felix Morka, said in a recent statement.

The race for the party’s governorship tickets in the 28 states is shrouded in controversy over the mode of primaries chosen by individual states — consensus and direct primaries — as provided for in the Electoral Act, 2026.

Section 87 of the Electoral Act prescribes that: “(1) A political party that adopts a consensus candidate shall secure the written consent of all cleared aspirants for the position, indicating their voluntary withdrawal from the race and their endorsement of the consensus candidate.

“(2) Where a political party is unable to secure the written consent of all cleared aspirants for the purpose of a consensus candidate, it shall revert to the choice of direct primaries for the nomination of candidates for elective positions.”

LEADERSHIP observed that some incumbent governors in several APC-controlled states have successfully secured consensus support for their second-term tickets, but the move is being challenged in other states with serving governors seeking re-election, states where governors are completing their second terms, as well as states where the APC is in opposition.

The first-term governors who emerged as consensus candidates include Governors Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Abba Yusuf (Kano), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Dikko Radda (Katsina), Nasir Idris (Kebbi), Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), and Ogbonna Nwifuru (Ebonyi).

Also, other states including Borno, Cross River, Kaduna, and Ogun have one governorship aspirant each, signifying definite consensus.

Consequently, consensus primary elections are holding in 15 states, while the direct mode of primaries will take place in 13 of the 28 states.

States heading to direct primaries are Yobe, Benue, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Kwara, Lagos, Gombe, Plateau, Bauchi, Oyo, Rivers, Taraba, and Abia.

In Yobe State, the party, under the leadership of Governor Mai Mala Buni, adopted the consensus method of primaries as some APC critical stakeholders announced Baba Mallam Wali, the former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), as its consensus candidate.

The stakeholders, including Governor Buni and the Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam, endorsed Wali at a meeting in Abuja.

However, three governorship aspirants in Yobe State rejected the emergence of Baba Wali as the APC consensus candidate, insisting on primary elections.

The aspirants — former director-general of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Maihaja; former lawmaker, Bashir Machina, and Kashim Tumsah — said any attempt to impose a candidate would violate the APC constitution and provisions of the Electoral Act.

Speaking with journalists in Damaturu on Monday on behalf of the group, known as G-3, Tumsah said the consensus arrangement had failed because due process was not followed.

“The three of us are here to ensure that the right thing is done, especially now that the issue of consensus has not been properly resolved,” he said.

Also, the former police boss, in an interview with journalists after submitting his forms in Abuja, said: “If I believed in any consensus, I wouldn’t be here. I have not attended any consensus meeting, nor have I agreed to support anyone.”

In Nasarawa State, where Senator Aliyu Wadada emerged as the anointed choice or consensus candidate of Governor Abdullahi Sule, there are objections, as former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu and a female aspirant, Dr Fatima Abdullahi, are still in the race.

Adamu, through the Director-General of his campaign organisation, said: “We are not considering the issue of consensus because we are in this contest to win the forthcoming APC governorship primary election and the 2027 governorship election.”

For her part, Abdullahi said: “We will be comfortable with the direct primaries, which is what my state is adopting, because, as you can see, we have over six aspirants currently in the state who have bought and submitted their forms. So automatically, we are going for direct primaries.”

In Benue State, where the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, had mulled a sort of consensus arrangement for Governor Hyacinth Alia and all elected political office holders to return, the move met stiff opposition.

This is as other aspirants, including former Executive Director of Housing Finance and Accounts at the Federal Housing Authority, Dr Mathias Byuan, Terwase Orbunde, and Dr Jeffrey Kuraun, are in the race for the party’s ticket to contest the Benue governorship seat.

While Byuan later dumped the APC and joined the Labour Party to pursue his governorship aspiration, Orbunde and Kuraun are still in the race to slug it out with Governor Alia today for the party’s governorship ticket.

Also, in Adamawa State, governorship aspirants have rejected consensus and are opting for direct primaries.

For instance, a former spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, expressed preference for direct primaries.

“Our leaders will give us the opportunity to contest. If we are called for consensus, that does not mean we will not participate in the process. If we agree among ourselves, fine. If we do not agree, we go for a contest,” he said.

Another APC governorship aspirant in Adamawa, Dr Bakari Girei, also appears not disposed to consensus, except where it carries the colouration of imposition.

In Gombe, the senator representing Gombe Central Senatorial District, Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje, rejected the arrangement adopted by the state chapter of the APC.

This was contained in a statement issued by an aide to the senator, Saidu Muazu Kumo, copies of which were made available to journalists.

Goje, a former two-term governor, stated that the purported consensus meeting involved only Governor Muhammadu Yahaya and a limited number of aspirants and “did not include all duly recognised aspirants within the party.”

Similarly, Senator Saidu Ahmed Alkali publicly rejected the announced consensus and adoption of Jamilu Ishiyaku Gwamna as the party’s candidate for the 2027 general elections in Gombe.

The senator, in a statement, described the move by some party stakeholders as “undemocratic, arbitrary, and inconsistent” with the Electoral Act, 2026.

He argued that the process violated key provisions of the Electoral Act, particularly Sections 84(1) and 87(1), which mandate the conduct of primaries and require the written consent of all aspirants before adopting a consensus candidate.

Also, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, has withdrawn from the race for the APC governorship ticket in Gombe State.

A statement issued by Ibrahim Attahir on behalf of the Pantamiyya Movement, promoters of the former minister, cited alleged violations of the Electoral Act and failure of party officials to provide conditions necessary for a credible primary process.

The situation is not different in Bauchi, as governorship aspirants, including the immediate past Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, are expressing preference for direct primaries.

Tuggar said he was open to any mode of primary election, either consensus or direct, provided the process is free and fair.

“I hope that the process will be free and fair regardless of what the party chooses, whether direct or consensus,” he added.

However, the former minister, in apparent reference to direct primaries, said it was necessary “to ensure that we put forward people with credibility as candidates — people who command respect and genuine followership.”

Meanwhile, another frontline APC governorship aspirant in Bauchi State, Senator Shehu Buba Umar, has withdrawn from the race, citing alleged breaches of the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act, and constitutional provisions guiding internal democracy.

The development was contained in a press statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Sabo Muhammad, and made available to journalists in Bauchi on Wednesday.

According to the statement, Senator Buba’s decision followed unresolved internal crises within the party, particularly leadership disputes affecting key positions in the State Executive Committee, including the offices of State Secretary and Organising Secretary.