Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara walked into the APC governorship screening room on Sunday, dropped his papers, and walked out less than 20 minutes later with a curt “take a bow and go.”
The brief encounter with the All Progressives Congress’ 2027 screening committee, chaired by Deputy National Chairman Ali Dalori, was over before it began.
A party source said it was standard protocol for sitting governors seeking re-election.
“This was the same courtesy extended to other governorship aspirants seeking re-election,” a report by The Eagle Online quoted a source close to the development to have said.
He stated that “Incumbents have the right of first refusal if they are performing well and haven’t gone against party policies.”
Fubara’s appearance came a day after APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda explained that three governors, including Fubara, Kwara’s AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and Ebonyi’s Francis Nwifuru, had missed Saturday’s session due to state duties.
“Three governors have not appeared yet, and they all have their reasons. They are chief executives with urgent issues to attend to,” Yilwatda said Saturday. “Anytime they are free, they can call the committee and we will screen them at their convenience.”
Speaking after Sunday’s session, APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru downplayed the idea of a pass-or-fail moment.
“I don’t know what you mean by ‘screened’. Anyone who appears before the committee does so as a necessary part of the process,” Basiru said. “Once the committee has seen everyone, they will sit down and produce a report. As of now, there is no report.”
The committee’s report will ultimately determine who makes it to the primaries. For now, Fubara’s quick in-and-out suggests his path back remains open, pending the party’s final verdict.
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