Fubara Withdraws From Rivers State Primary Election

Fubara Withdraws From Rivers State Primary Election.Governor Sininalayi Fubara has withdrawn from the APC governorship primary election citing the need to preserve peace and stability ahead of 2027 general elections.

KANO—

Governor Sininalayi Fubara, has withdrawn from the  Rivers State,APC  Primary Election scheduled for Thursday.

Governor Fubara withdrew from the APC governorship primary election on Wednesday night, citing the need to preserve peace, unity, and stability in the state.

Fubara made the shocking announcement in an official statement signed and released on Wednesday, titled ‘My Decision to Withdraw from the Rivers State Gubernatorial Primaries,’ where he said the move followed deep reflection and consultations with family, friends, and associates.

He stated that although the decision was difficult, it was taken in the overriding interest of Rivers State and the need to place collective good above personal ambition.

Fubara Withdraws From Rivers State Primary Election

“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. I do so with a full heart and with a firm commitment to support whoever emerges as the candidate of our great party,” he said.

The governor noted that leadership often requires sacrifice, stressing that at certain moments, personal ambition must give way to the broader interests of the people.

“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,” he added

Fubara expressed appreciation to his supporters for their loyalty and encouragement throughout his political journey, acknowledging their emotional and material support.

Fubara Withdraws From Rivers State Primary Election

“To my supporters who stood firmly with me throughout this journey — your time, resources, prayers, and unwavering hope, I offer my deepest gratitude,” he said.

He further described his recent silence as intentional, saying it was guided by his love and commitments to the state.

“As our elders say, not everything a hunter sees in the forest is spoken of in the marketplace… I have faced immense pressures and difficult choices, but my love for Rivers State remains greater than anything else,” he stated

The governor also thanked the APC for the platform and expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his encouragement and support.

Fubara Withdraws From Rivers State Primary Election

Fubara, however, stressed that his withdrawal should not be interpreted as weakness or surrender, but rather as a deliberate act of sacrifice for peace in Rivers State.

“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,” he said

He reaffirmed his commitment to serving the people of Rivers State to the end of his tenure, while calling on party members to remain united and focused on building a stronger APC.

Fubara’s withdrawal comes amid months of political tension and internal power struggles within the Rivers APC, which have significantly shaped the state’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.

Fubara Withdraws From Rivers State Primary Election

During the recent ongoing aspirants screening, Fubara had appeared before the party’s screening committee in Abuja, where he was reportedly involved in a tense encounter that ended abruptly, with the governor said to have walked out of the venue without addressing journalists.

Since then, he has remained largely silent on the unfolding political developments within the party, even as speculation continues to mount over his next move.

In another development, the  Rivers APC,reportedly disqualified all 32 aspirants said to have been backed by the governor for the state House of Assembly primaries. Among those affected were three lawmakers who had been loyal to Fubara during the prolonged political crisis in the state, including those aligned with the then-factional Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo.

Similarly, three members of the House of Representatives believed to be loyal to the governor —including Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante and Hon. Boma Goodhead — also failed to secure tickets to return to the National Assembly following their disqualification from the primaries.

Fubara Withdraws From Rivers State Primary Election

In the same vein, former Rivers State Deputy Governor and Senator representing Rivers West, Dr Ipalibo Banigo-Harry, who is also considered an ally of Fubara, was affected by the disqualification exercise.

Banigo-Harry, who served as deputy governor under former Governor Nyesom Wike for eight years before their political fallout after she emerged as senator, also lost out in the process.

Fubara recently dismissed rumours of defection during a project inspection in Port Harcourt, insisting that he remains a loyal member of the APC.

However, palpable tension continues to grip the state as political actors across factions—including supporters of the governor, the camp of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and other stakeholders—await the outcome of Thursday’s primary, which is expected to significantly shape the 2027 political landscape in Rivers State.

Governor Fubara and FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, have been engaged in a running battle for three years following a conflict of interest between both since 2023.

Former Rivers Governor Wike influenced Fubara’s emergence as governor in 2023, but both politicians fell out months after because of the struggle for control of the political structures in the oil-rich state.

President Bola Tinubu had brokered two peace deals between the parties, but they all collapsed shortly after.

The crisis later resulted in the declaration of emergency rule in the state in 2025.Fubara, who was suspended by Tinubu for six months alongside all elected officials in the state in March 2025, returned to office last September after the President declared an end to the emergency rule.

In January, Wike-backed members of the Rivers State House of Assembly commenced the third attempt to impeach Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.

God-fatherism is a popular feature of Nigerian politics but in most cases often turns sour leading to confrontation or anti-party arrangements.