Just hours before the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries in Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, announced his withdrawal from the race for the 2027 governorship ticket.
In a personally signed statement titled “My Decision to Withdraw from the Rivers State Gubernatorial Primaries,” Fubara said this followed deep reflection and extensive consultations with his 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.”
He emphasised that the decision was driven by the overriding need for peace, unity, and stability in Rivers State, stressing that personal ambition must yield to the greater good of the people.
“Leadership is ultimately about sacrifice. There comes a time when personal ambition must yield to the greater good of the people,” Fubara said. “Let it be clearly understood that I stepped aside… not out of weakness, fear, or surrender, but out of conviction and sacrifice so that Rivers State may move forward in peace and unity.”
The governor reaffirmed his commitment to serving the people of Rivers State until the end of his current term and pledged full support for the eventual APC candidate.
He expressed gratitude to his supporters, the party leadership, and President Bola Tinubu.
Fubara’s withdrawal came on the same day that APC chieftain and 2023 governorship candidate Tonye Cole also announced his decision to step aside from the primaries.
Cole cited the need to promote party unity and stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The announcement is a notable development in the volatile politics of oil-rich Rivers State.
Fubara, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in late 2025, had been cleared to contest the primaries despite ongoing tensions with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Recent party primaries for other positions reportedly saw some Fubara loyalists disqualified, heightening speculation about internal power dynamics within the Rivers APC.
Political observers view Fubara’s decision as a strategic move to prioritise stability amid the long-running rivalry with the Wike camp, which could influence the direction of the APC in the state. The primaries were scheduled for Thursday, May 21, 2026.
Administrator and Writer
