POLITICS
Why Fubara Did Not Run on the APC Ticket: The Political Calculations Behind His Withdrawal
Why Fubara Did Not Run on the APC Ticket: The Political Calculations Behind His Withdrawal
Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s decision to withdraw from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary ahead of the 2027 election has drawn attention to the political calculations, reconciliation efforts and power struggles surrounding his second-term ambition.
Fubara, who joined the APC after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in December 2025, had been expected to seek the party’s ticket for another term. However, on May 20, 2026, he announced his withdrawal from the contest, citing the need to prioritise peace, stability and unity in Rivers State.
His decision came amid a prolonged political dispute involving his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and the wider struggle over political influence in the oil-rich state.
One of the major explanations reported for Fubara’s withdrawal centres on the reconciliation arrangements intended to resolve the political crisis between him and Wike.
A report by Punch on May 24, 2026, citing unnamed APC insiders and political sources, claimed that the governor had fallen out with President Bola Tinubu and the party’s leadership after allegedly reneging on terms of an earlier settlement.
According to the report, one of the alleged terms was that Fubara would not seek re-election in 2027. The sources claimed that the agreement formed part of efforts to resolve the recurring confrontation between the governor and his predecessor.
These claims, however, were attributed to unnamed sources and should not be treated as an independently established account of the negotiations.
The dispute had previously escalated into a major institutional crisis, including impeachment proceedings against Fubara and the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State in March 2025. The emergency ended in September 2025.
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APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda offered a different public explanation of the governor’s exit from the race.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Yilwatda said Fubara had completed the party’s screening process and was cleared to participate in the governorship primary before deciding to step aside.
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“He pulled out; he stepped down. It is personal to him,” Yilwatda said, dismissing suggestions that the party had formally disqualified the governor.
He also rejected claims that Wike, a member of the PDP, had dictated the APC’s internal decisions.
Yilwatda’s account contrasts with reports by unnamed party insiders who suggested that political agreements and the balance of power in Rivers State had undermined Fubara’s second-term prospects.
The political relationship between Fubara and Wike remains central to understanding the controversy.
Wike backed Fubara’s emergence as governor in 2023, but their relationship subsequently deteriorated into a prolonged struggle involving rival political camps and lawmakers in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The conflict raised questions about control of the state’s political structures, the governor’s relationship with the presidency and the future of his administration beyond its first term.
Fubara’s move to the APC did not, by itself, resolve those tensions. His withdrawal from the party’s primary further complicated the question of whether he would remain a contender for the governorship in 2027.
The APC subsequently produced Kingsley Chinda as its Rivers State governorship candidate, according to reports on the party’s primary.
In announcing his withdrawal, Fubara said he was stepping aside out of conviction and sacrifice to allow Rivers State to move forward in peace and unity.
He also pledged to support whoever emerged as the APC’s candidate.
His public explanation placed the stability of the state above his personal political ambition. However, the competing accounts of the reconciliation process and the party’s internal calculations have continued to fuel debate over whether the decision was entirely voluntary or shaped by broader political pressures.
What Happens Next?
Fubara’s withdrawal marks a significant development in the run-up to the 2027 Rivers State governorship election. It also illustrates how negotiations among political leaders, party structures and competing interests can influence candidate selection.
While the APC chairman maintains that the governor voluntarily stepped down after passing screening, reports citing party insiders point to alleged reconciliation terms and disagreements over political control as possible factors behind the decision.
For now, the clearest publicly stated reason remains Fubara’s appeal for peace and stability. The precise role of any private political agreement remains dependent on further verifiable evidence and direct confirmation from the parties involved.
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