Fubara’s Withdrawal From Rivers APC Primary Was Personal

The decision by Siminalayi Fubara to withdraw from the All Progressives Congress governorship primary in Rivers State has continued to generate political debate across Nigeria’s oil-rich South-South region, with the ruling party insisting the move was entirely voluntary and unconnected to any form of coercion.

Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda described Fubara’s withdrawal as a “personal decision”, stressing that the party complied with all constitutional and procedural requirements throughout the primary process. According to Yilwatda, the Rivers governor participated fully in the screening exercise before eventually choosing to step aside from the contest.

Fubara’s withdrawal came as a surprise to many political observers because the governor had only recently aligned himself with the APC after months of intense political turbulence in Rivers State. His move into the ruling party was widely interpreted as part of a broader political recalibration following the prolonged power struggle that rocked the state’s political structure after the 2023 elections.

The Rivers political crisis has remained one of Nigeria’s most closely watched power contests in recent years. Once regarded as the political protégé of former Rivers governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Fubara’s relationship with his predecessor deteriorated sharply after assuming office in 2023. The fallout triggered deep divisions within the Rivers State House of Assembly, legal disputes, street protests, and eventually the controversial declaration of emergency rule in the state in 2025.

Against that backdrop, Fubara’s entry into the APC had initially been viewed as a strategic attempt to stabilise his political future and rebuild alliances ahead of the 2027 elections. However, his sudden withdrawal from the governorship primary has reopened questions about the internal balance of power within the Rivers APC and the broader calculations shaping the state’s political future.

Yilwatda dismissed suggestions that the APC leadership pressured the governor into stepping down, insisting the party merely provided an open platform for aspirants to participate. He maintained that the APC remained committed to internal democracy and due process, adding that every aspirant was treated fairly during the exercise.

The development became even more significant after another APC governorship aspirant, Alabo George-Kelly, also withdrew from the race shortly after Fubara’s exit, pledging support for whoever eventually emerged as the party’s candidate. That sequence of withdrawals has fuelled speculation about possible behind-the-scenes negotiations and political alignments within the party structure.

Although Fubara himself framed the decision as a sacrifice made in the interest of “peace, stability and unity” in Rivers State, analysts believe the withdrawal may reflect deeper realities within the APC’s internal power dynamics. Rivers politics has historically been shaped by powerful alliances, regional loyalties, and elite negotiations, making governorship contests far more complex than ordinary party primaries.

For many residents of Rivers State, the situation also reflects growing fatigue with prolonged political confrontation. Since the crisis between rival camps escalated, governance in the state has frequently been overshadowed by legal disputes, defections, legislative battles and uncertainty over political control. Ordinary citizens, meanwhile, continue to grapple with economic pressures, insecurity concerns and demands for improved infrastructure and public services.

The APC leadership appears keen to project stability and unity following the withdrawals, especially as the party seeks to consolidate its hold in strategically important states ahead of the next electoral cycle. Similar competitive primaries and political realignments have also been unfolding in other states across the country as parties position themselves early for 2027.

Yet despite the official explanations from party leaders, Fubara’s withdrawal is unlikely to end political speculation anytime soon. In Rivers State, where political influence often extends beyond formal declarations, many observers believe the full implications of the governor’s decision may only become clearer in the months ahead.

What remains certain is that Rivers politics continues to evolve rapidly, with alliances shifting and ambitions being recalibrated behind the scenes. For now, Fubara’s exit from the APC governorship race has added another dramatic chapter to an already volatile political landscape in one of Nigeria’s most politically strategic states.