Politics

Fresh crisis signals as Fubara’s brief APC screening sparks speculation

Published

2 weeks ago

May 10, 2026

The simmering political crisis in Rivers State took a dramatic turn in Abuja on Sunday as Governor Siminalayi Fubara made a brief and controversial appearance before the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship screening panel, sparking fresh speculation over his political future within the ruling party.

Fubara, whose rift with his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has continued to dominate political discourse in Rivers State, reportedly spent less than 10 minutes before the screening committee.

The Rivers governor arrived quietly at the Plateau State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, the designated venue for the screening exercise, at about 3:15 p.m. in an unnumbered Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). Witnesses said he went straight into the meeting venue without speaking to party officials or journalists.

However, the meeting ended almost as quickly as it began.

At about 3:25 p.m., Fubara emerged from the venue looking visibly unsettled, according to observers present at the scene. His facial expression and hurried exit immediately fueled speculation that the screening session may not have gone smoothly.

Journalists who surrounded the governor in a bid to learn what transpired during the brief encounter were met with silence.

“No comments,” Fubara said curtly before entering his vehicle and leaving the premises.

The unusual brevity of the meeting immediately triggered questions among party members and political observers, with many wondering whether the governor was fully screened or if unresolved political issues overshadowed the process.

The APC National Secretary and secretary of the screening panel, Ajibola Basiru, also declined to shed light on the governor’s appearance before the committee.

Speaking with reporters after the sitting, Basiru insisted that every aspirant expected before the committee must undergo screening as part of the party’s procedures.

“Everybody must appear before the screening committee; of course, it is necessary as part of the process,” he stated.

When pressed further on Fubara’s fate and the outcome of his appearance, Basiru remained evasive.

“After the exercise, the screening committee will issue its report. When the committee has completed seeing everybody it is supposed to see, we will sit down and come up with reports. There is no report yet,” he added.

Fubara and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, were absent during the earlier rounds of screening conducted on Friday and Saturday, despite reports that several incumbent governors had already been cleared by the panel.

It was gathered that AbdulRazaq is currently part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s delegation on official visits to France, Kenya and Rwanda.

On Saturday, APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, confirmed the absence of the two governors, explaining that they had obtained permission to be away and would appear before the panel upon their return.

Meanwhile, the APC screening exercise in Rivers State has continued to attract widespread attention amid the lingering political battle within the state.

Three other aspirants seeking the APC governorship ticket in Rivers were screened on Saturday by the Dr. Ben Nwoye-led panel at the Kaduna State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.

Among those screened were the APC’s 2023 governorship candidate in Rivers State, Tonye Cole, former Rivers State Commissioner for Works, George-Kelly Alabo, and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.

Political analysts believe the tension surrounding Fubara’s appearance before the screening panel is closely tied to the prolonged power struggle between the governor and Wike, a crisis that has sharply divided political structures in Rivers State.

Insiders within the party hinted that the events at the screening venue may be connected to ongoing negotiations and disagreements linked to the Rivers political crisis, although no official statement has been issued regarding what transpired behind closed doors.

The development has further heightened uncertainty within Rivers APC circles as party members and observers await the final report of the screening committee.

Related Topics:APC Featured Nyesom Wike Siminalayi Fubara

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Politics

2027: Supporters to raise #.6 billion for opposition party

Published

5 days ago

May 19, 2026

News Diggers

Supporters of Obi and Kwankwaso have commenced early negotiations aimed at forming what could emerge as a major opposition alliance ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election.

The talks are focused on producing a consensus presidential ticket under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) platform, in a move supporters say is designed to strengthen opposition chances against the ruling party.

Obi and Kwankwaso were presidential candidates in the 2023 general elections under the platforms of the Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), respectively, leading the Obidient and Kwankwasiyya political movements.

The proposed alliance was unveiled during the NDC Aspirants’ Summit held in Abuja, reflecting growing concerns among opposition figures and grassroots supporters that divided political interests could once again weaken efforts to unseat the ruling party in 2027.

Political observers say the development signals a strategic shift from the fragmented opposition politics that characterised the 2023 elections, where strong candidates split votes across regional and ideological lines.

Supporters within both the Obidient and Kwankwasiyya movements are now exploring the possibility of building a united front well ahead of the official campaign season.

Speaking at the summit, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, disclosed that supporters had already begun mobilising funds to purchase a joint presidential nomination form for Obi and Kwankwaso.

According to him, the target is to raise ₦60 million as both a symbolic and practical demonstration of grassroots commitment to the coalition project.

Tanko said the proposed alliance was in response to growing calls from Nigerians for a stronger opposition platform capable of addressing the country’s economic and governance challenges.

Although neither Obi nor Kwankwaso has formally declared interest in the 2027 presidential race, the growing collaboration between their supporters has already sparked discussions within political circles over possible power-sharing arrangements, regional considerations and the management of competing ambitions.

Representing Obi at the summit, former Inter-Party Advisory Council Chairman, Chief Peter Ameh, urged politicians seeking office under the NDC platform to prioritise credibility and national interest above personal gain.

Ameh stated that many Nigerians were becoming increasingly disillusioned with politics driven by greed, defections and transactional alliances, warning that any coalition lacking clear principles would struggle to gain public trust.

He also criticised the rising trend of post-election defections by politicians, arguing that such actions undermine democratic accountability and betray voters who supported candidates based on party ideology and campaign promises.

Politics

Senator tackles APC leadership, governor over primary election

Published

5 days ago

May 19, 2026

News Diggers

The senator representing Kogi East Senatorial District, has declared that “the battle line has been drawn” between him and Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, following his defeat in the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primary election.

Isah, one of the seven aspirants who contested for the APC senatorial ticket, alleged widespread irregularities during the exercise, accusing government agents of hijacking electoral materials meant for the primary election.

Speaking after the exercise, the senator said only two votes were recorded in his favour in his own ward, despite his presence there to participate in the process.

According to him, he arrived at his ward expecting to cast his vote but discovered that no electoral officer appeared at the venue. He added that similar incidents were reported in several wards across Kogi East Senatorial District.

The lawmaker said the absence of electoral officials and voting materials prevented many party members from taking part in the primary election in affected areas.

He alleged that the situation was deliberately orchestrated to frustrate his supporters and influence the outcome of the exercise.

Isah maintained that the projects he had executed across Kogi East would continue to strengthen the APC’s chances in the district, including support for the President during future elections.

The senator also expressed disappointment over what he described as unfair treatment from the party leadership and Governor Ododo despite his loyalty and contributions to the APC.

According to him, the governor allegedly turned against him over claims that he intended to challenge him in the future governorship election.

“Well, with the latest development, I will now contest for the governorship position against Governor Ododo when the time comes,” the senator said.

He called on the APC leadership to investigate the alleged hijacking of electoral materials and ensure fairness and transparency in the pa

rty’s electoral process.

Politics

Delta North APC stakeholders reject Okowa’s victory claim, back Ned Nwoko as winner

Published

5 days ago

May 19, 2026

News Diggers

Stakeholders of the Delta North chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have rejected what they described as a “self-declared victory” by former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, in the party’s senatorial primary election.

The stakeholders insisted that available results from across the district showed that Ned Nwoko won the contest overwhelmingly.

In a statement issued in Asaba, the group accused Okowa of attempting to undermine established party procedures by allegedly announcing victory before the completion of the official collation process outlined by the APC National Organising Secretary.

According to the stakeholders, the party had already established a clear framework for the exercise, including ward collation, local government collation, designated constituency collation centres and final submission of results to the party’s national headquarters.

“The authority to declare results rests solely with the National Committee. What Okowa has done is a clear violation of party rules and an attempt to manipulate perception ahead of due process,” the statement read.

The group maintained that figures collated from several wards across Delta North indicated massive support for Nwoko, dismissing Okowa’s claim as “fiction sustained by propaganda.”

Among the results cited were Ward 7 in Ndokwa West, where Nwoko reportedly polled 1,281 votes against Okowa’s 26 votes, while in Ward 9, Abbi, also in Ndokwa West, Nwoko allegedly secured 1,505 votes against 420 votes for Okowa.

In Akumazi Ward 7, Nwoko was said to have scored 687 votes compared to Okowa’s five votes, while in Ward 13, Ute Ogbeje, Ika North East, the senator reportedly polled 415 votes against 13 votes for the former governor.

The stakeholders also listed several results from Ukwuani and Oshimili South local government areas, which they claimed showed a consistent pattern of dominance in favour of Nwoko.

“These figures are not isolated — they reflect a consistent and overwhelming pattern across the district. The people have spoken clearly in favour of Senator Ned Nwoko,” the statement added.

The stakeholders further alleged that the primary election was marred by violence and intimidation in some areas believed to be strongholds of support for Nwoko.

They cited incidents in Ward 9, Obiaruku in Ukwuani Local Government Area, where a party member identified as Igelige Chukunomnazu allegedly sustained injuries following attacks during the exercise.

According to the statement, supporters of Nwoko were allegedly intimidated, while vote counting processes were manipulated.

The group also alleged that an individual identified as Ernest was stabbed during the exercise in Ward 8, Aniocha North Local Government Area, adding that photographic and video evidence of the incident existed.

In Ward 3, Anishi Primary School, the stakeholders claimed that violence escalated to the point that the returning officer reportedly fled the venue for safety.

Describing the incidents as coordinated efforts to suppress voters, the stakeholders called on the APC National Committee to intervene and ensure that the final declaration reflected the actual outcome of the exercise.

“The integrity of the party is at stake. This is not just about a primary election — it is about whether internal democracy will be upheld or sacrificed to manipulation,” the statement said.

The group urged the party leadership to disregard what it described as “manufactured narratives” and formally affirm the outcome that reflected the will of party members across Delta North.