By Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka
Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has cleared Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to contest its governorship primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections. The decision, confirmed by senior party sources on Monday, May 12, 2026, ends months of speculation over Fubara’s standing in the ruling party.
Fubara was elected governor in 2023 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) but has been locked in a protracted feud with his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. His clearance to seek a second term under the APC banner is seen by analysts as a significant shift in Rivers politics.
The clearance was part of a wider screening exercise conducted by the APC’s national leadership. Party documents show that 30 sitting governors, including Fubara and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, have been cleared as eligible aspirants. The move underscores the party’s strategy of consolidating incumbency ahead of the polls.
APC screening panels across the zones evaluated 2,980 aspirants for various positions. The breakdown includes one presidential slot, 28 governorship seats, 109 senatorial seats, 360 House of Representatives seats, and 991 state assembly positions.
The party had planned to release the full list of cleared candidates by Tuesday, May 13, but the process was delayed by petitions under review by the National Working Committee. A senior party official said the delay reflects thoroughness rather than crisis. “We are still working on the screening report to make sure everything goes well,” the source said.
Rumours had circulated that Fubara might be disqualified over defection-related issues or internal friction. The APC hierarchy, however, denied this. “No governor has been booted out. The party has always supported its governors,” the official said. Some governors, including Uzodimma, received automatic clearance due to their standing in the party.
For Fubara, the clearance provides political cover after months of legislative and legal battles within the PDP structure in Rivers. Party sources said the decision prioritises the capture of Rivers State over factional grievances.
In Oyo State, the situation remains uncertain for former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, who is reportedly facing hurdles in his screening file. In contrast, former Secretary to the State Government Sarafadeen Alli has emerged as a favoured candidate, a development that has sparked allegations of imposition from rival factions.
A group of Oyo governorship aspirants, including former Deputy Governor Rauf Olaniyan, issued a communiqué in Ibadan rejecting any attempt to bypass internal democracy. “Imposition is a betrayal of democracy, and we reject it totally, completely, and without compromise,” the group said. They insisted that any consensus must be transparent, free and fair.
In Ogun East, tensions have flared over the senatorial ticket, with Governor Dapo Abiodun and incumbent Senator Gbenga Daniel at odds. Daniel has rejected consensus arrangements and insisted on a competitive primary. The Ogun government accused him of hypocrisy, saying he benefited from consensus in 2023 but now opposes it.
Daniel’s media aide, Steve Oliyide, countered that the senator won a delegate-based primary with 450 of 496 votes, arguing that his mandate came from party members, not a backroom deal.
In Ondo State, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has agreed to adopt direct primaries following pressure from the APC National Working Committee. The primaries are scheduled for May 15, 18 and 20, 2026. The Ondo Police Command has begun show-of-force operations in Idanre and Owo, warning against thuggery and voter intimidation.
The APC leadership said consensus remains the preferred option to avoid litigation, but direct primaries will be used where consensus fails. “We don’t want that. We are meticulously addressing all petitions to ensure transparency and fairness before the final release,” a party insider said.
With Fubara now an officially cleared APC aspirant, the party has altered the electoral calculations in Rivers. His control of the state’s administrative and financial machinery now serves APC interests, effectively weakening the PDP structure loyal to Wike.
As the party finalises its list, the resolution of petitions on issues ranging from certificate forgery to anti-party conduct will determine the final line-up. For now, the APC is projecting consolidation, with Fubara’s clearance marking one of the most consequential outcomes of the screening cycle.
