Rivers State Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara has dramatically withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries scheduled for Thursday, May 21, 2026, saying he would support whoever emerges as the party’s candidate and declaring that “personal ambition must yield to the greater good of the people.”
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Fubara’s withdrawal came on the eve of the primaries, even as the APC prepared to conduct governorship candidate selection exercises across 28 states of the federation with 15 states opting for consensus arrangements and 13 bracing for direct primaries — in what promises to be one of the most contentious internal exercises in the ruling party’s history.
Fubara’s Statement
In a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Fubara said his decision followed deep reflection and wide consultations with his family, friends, and associates.
“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,” the governor stated.
“I do so with a full heart and with a firm commitment to support whoever emerges as the candidate of our great party.”
Fubara framed his withdrawal as an act of statesmanship and sacrifice rather than defeat, stating: “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.”
“Not Everything a Hunter Sees in the Forest…”
In one of the most closely parsed passages of his statement, Fubara deployed a traditional Ijaw analogy to explain weeks of public silence that preceded his withdrawal, suggesting that unseen pressures and difficult choices had shaped his decision.
“My silence over this period was deliberate and strategic, guided always by the higher interest of our state and our people,” the governor said.
“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 cryptic language has been widely interpreted as a suggestion that Fubara came under intense political pressure — potentially from the presidency, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike’s camp, or other powerful interests within the APC — to step aside from the governorship race. His reference to “immense pressures and difficult choices” without specifying their source has fuelled intense speculation about what transpired behind closed doors.
Gratitude and Reassurance to Supporters
Addressing supporters who had invested time, resources, and hope in his political journey, Fubara expressed appreciation while acknowledging their likely disappointment.
“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. 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.”
Fubara thanked the APC and expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for support and encouragement, urging party members to remain united.
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.”
Authenticity Questions
However, the statement’s authenticity could not be independently confirmed. Aides to the governor told journalists they could not comment on a statement not issued on official state government letterhead — a response that left open the possibility of the statement either being genuine but informally released, or potentially being circulated by parties other than the governor’s official communications team.
The Rivers Political Context
Fubara’s withdrawal, if authentic, would represent a dramatic turning point in one of Nigeria’s most complex political sagas. The governor defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC amid his protracted war with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, but his presence in the ruling party has been marked by tension rather than integration.
Wike’s allies swept all 13 House of Representatives tickets and key Senate positions in the Rivers APC primaries conducted over the weekend, while several aspirants perceived to be aligned with Fubara were disqualified at the screening stage — signals that the Wike faction retained firm control of the party machinery in the state.
Fubara’s withdrawal effectively clears the field for a Wike-backed candidate to emerge as the APC governorship flagbearer in Rivers State — a development that, if it materialises, would complete Wike’s consolidation of political control in the state through the ruling party structure.
APC Governorship Primaries Across 28 States
Beyond Rivers, the APC is conducting governorship primaries today across 28 states excluding eight off-season election states: Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Kogi, Ondo, Osun, and Imo.
The exercise is a mix of consensus and direct primaries, with the mode varying by state and generating controversy in multiple locations.
15 States Adopt Consensus
Eleven first-term governors have successfully secured consensus arrangements for their second-term tickets. They are: 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).
Additionally, Borno, Cross River, Kaduna, and Ogun have one governorship aspirant each, signifying definite consensus — bringing the total number of consensus states to 15.
13 States Hold Direct Primaries
The remaining 13 states — Yobe, Benue, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Kwara, Lagos, Gombe, Plateau, Bauchi, Oyo, Rivers, Taraba, and Abia — are heading to direct primaries, several of them amid sharp disagreements and allegations of imposition.
Yobe: Three Aspirants Reject Consensus
In Yobe State, the party leadership under Governor Mai Mala Buni endorsed Baba Mallam Wali, the former Secretary to the State Government, as the consensus candidate. However, three aspirants — former NEMA Director-General Mustapha Maihaja, former lawmaker Bashir Machina, and Kashim Tumsah — rejected the arrangement and insisted on direct primaries.
“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,” Tumsah told journalists.
Maihaja was more blunt: “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.”
Nasarawa: Former IGP Rejects Governor’s Choice
In Nasarawa State, Governor Abdullahi Sule’s anointed candidate, Senator Aliyu Wadada, faces opposition from former Inspector-General of Police Mohammed Adamu and a female aspirant, Dr Fatima Abdullahi, who both refused to step down.
“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,” Adamu’s campaign organisation stated.
Benue: Governor Alia Faces Challengers
In Benue State, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, had attempted to engineer a consensus arrangement for Governor Hyacinth Alia and all elected political office holders to return, but the move met stiff opposition.
While aspirant Dr Mathias Byuan left the APC for the Labour Party, Terwase Orbunde and Dr Jeffrey Kuraun remained in the race to challenge Governor Alia for the party’s ticket today.
Gombe: Goje Rejects Consensus, Pantami Withdraws
In Gombe State, former Governor and Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje rejected the consensus arrangement adopted by the state APC chapter, calling the purported meeting a limited gathering that “did not include all duly recognised aspirants within the party.”
Senator Saidu Ahmed Alkali also publicly rejected the adoption of Jamilu Ishiyaku Gwamna as the consensus candidate, describing the move as “undemocratic, arbitrary, and inconsistent” with the Electoral Act, 2026, citing violations of Sections 84(1) and 87(1).
Meanwhile, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, withdrew from the race entirely, citing alleged violations of the Electoral Act and failure of party officials to provide conditions necessary for a credible primary process.
Bauchi: Tuggar Wants Fair Process
In Bauchi State, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar expressed openness to any mode of primary but stressed the need for credibility. “It is necessary to ensure that we put forward people with credibility as candidates — people who command respect and genuine followership,” Tuggar stated.
However, Senator Shehu Buba Umar withdrew from the Bauchi race, citing alleged breaches of the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act, and unresolved internal crises within the state APC.
Adamawa: Aspirants Prefer Direct Primaries
In Adamawa State, governorship aspirants rejected consensus. Former House of Representatives spokesperson Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas expressed preference for direct primaries, while Dr Bakari Girei indicated he was opposed to any arrangement that carried “the colouration of imposition.”
Section 87 of the Electoral Act 2026 prescribes that a political party adopting a consensus candidate must secure the written consent of all cleared aspirants indicating their voluntary withdrawal and endorsement of the consensus candidate. Where a party is unable to secure such unanimous consent, it must revert to direct primaries.
The provision has become the legal battleground in multiple states where aspirants allege that consensus was declared without their written consent a violation that could ground legal challenges to the outcomes.
The APC governorship primaries represent the final major internal exercise before the party’s candidate lineup for the February 6, 2027, governorship elections is finalised. The nomination forms cost N50 million each, and aspirants range from sitting governors seeking second terms to former governors, serving lawmakers, former ministers, retired military officers, and business figures.
Fubara’s withdrawal in Rivers, the revolts in Yobe, Nasarawa, Gombe, and Bauchi, and the allegations of consensus manipulation in multiple states suggest that the exercise will produce fresh waves of internal party disputes, petition writing, and potentially legal challenges adding to the already significant fallout from the senatorial and House of Representatives primaries conducted over the preceding weekend.
The APC’s national publicity secretary, Felix Morka, had earlier stated that the date for the governorship primaries was “sacrosanct” and that the exercise would proceed as scheduled regardless of ongoing controversies.
Results from the 28 states are expected to emerge throughout Thursday and into Friday as the party conducts one of the most consequential internal exercises in its history ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
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