…Weekend’s screening of opposition Reps Leader by APC sets tongues wagging.
By Peter Salami
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was reportedly told on Sunday to “take a bow and go” after appearing before the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship screening panel, as fresh political tensions emerged over the screening of House Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, by the ruling party.
Sources close to Fubara dismissed claims that the governor was snubbed or poorly treated during the exercise, insisting that his brief appearance before the panel was procedural and in line with standard practice adopted for aspirants.
Fubara reportedly spent less than 20 minutes before the screening committee and declined to speak with journalists after the session.
Party insiders said the Rivers governor’s interaction with the panel was smooth and uneventful, with the committee asking him to “take a bow and go” after completing the formalities.
However, political observers said the development has intensified behind-the-scenes power struggles in Rivers State, especially following the controversial screening of Kingsley Chinda, minority leader of the House of Representatives and a prominent ally of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, by the APC governorship screening panel.
Chinda, who currently represents Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), appeared before the APC screening committee on Saturday ahead of the party’s governorship primaries in Rivers State.
His appearance before the ruling party’s panel has triggered widespread speculation over a possible defection from the PDP to the APC, although the lawmaker has yet to officially confirm any planned move.
The development has also heightened political anxiety within Rivers PDP, with analysts describing Chinda’s participation in the APC process as a major signal of deepening cracks within the opposition camp in the state.
Chinda is among two prominent Wike loyalists who obtained APC governorship nomination forms for the 2027 Rivers governorship race.
The second aspirant is Dax George-Kelly, Director-General of the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA).
However, questions have emerged over George-Kelly’s eligibility to contest while still occupying public office, following a directive from the Presidency through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation mandating political appointees seeking elective offices in 2027 to resign on or before March 30, 2026.
The APC has so far screened two Rivers governorship aspirants — Fubara and Chinda — ahead of the party’s primary election.
The screening committee is expected to submit its report in the coming days, after which aspirants will know their status and whether there would be a need to approach the Screening Appeal Committee.
Responding to enquiries on the exercise, APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, declined to make categorical comments on the outcome of the screening.
“I don’t know what you mean by screen. Anybody who appears before the screening committee, of course, is necessary as part of the process. After appearing before the screening committee, the screening committee will issue its report.
“As of now, the screening committee, having completed seeing everybody it is supposed to see, will now sit down and come out with its report. As of now, there is no report of the screening committee,” Basiru said.
Meanwhile, the APC screening panel also cleared several incumbent governors seeking the party’s backing ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Those screened included Governors Abba Yusuf of Kano, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Nasir Idris of Kebbi, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, Hyacinth Alia of Benue, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Umar Bago of Niger, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Bassey Otu of Cross River, and Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto.
However, Governors Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi and AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara were absent from the exercise.
The screening exercise is being conducted by a committee chaired by APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, with the party’s National Secretary, Surajudeen Basiru, serving as secretary.
Speaking during the exercise, Yilwatda explained that the absent governors were excused because of official engagements in their respective states.
“When you have three governors that have not appeared, all of them have their excuses and their reasons why they’re not appearing,” he said.
“And we know that they are chief executives of their states, and they have state issues to attend to.”
He added that the governors would be screened at a later date whenever they become available.
“Anytime you’re free, call the screening committee. We give you a room. You come at your will and your convenience, and we also screen you,” Yilwatda stated.