Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was reportedly absent from the ongoing screening exercise conducted by the All Progressives Congress ahead of the party’s primaries.
According to reports, the APC screening process covered 14 governors seeking re-election and other elective offices. Also screened was Stanley Osifo, the only challenger to President Bola Tinubu.
The screening exercise for serving governors commenced on May 8 and is scheduled to end on May 10. The party adopted both consensus and direct primary methods in line with the Electoral Act 2025.
Under the timetable released by the party, primaries for the House of Representatives will begin on May 15, followed by Senate primaries on May 18. State House of Assembly primaries are slated for May 20, governorship primaries for May 21, while the presidential primary is expected to hold on May 23.
Appeal committees are also expected to sit after each round of primaries to handle petitions and disputes arising from the exercises.
Governors who participated in the screening include Abba Yusuf, Inuwa Yahaya, Nasir Idris, Caleb Muftwang and Hyacinth Alia.
Others screened were Francis Nwifuru, Sheriff Oborevwori, Umar Bago, Dauda Lawal, Bassey Otu and Ahmed Aliyu.
“So far, we have screened over 14 governors, and the exercise is still ongoing,” a senior APC official reportedly stated.
Governors contesting senatorial seats were also screened, including Mai Mala Buni and Hope Uzodinma, among others.
Despite the ongoing exercise, Fubara did not appear before the screening committee. The Rivers governor has been locked in a prolonged political battle with his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Reports indicated that Fubara secured the APC expression of interest and nomination forms through a proxy, despite alleged opposition from Wike.
At the close of the screening sessions on Friday and Saturday, the Rivers governor was still absent.
Addressing concerns over the development, the chairman of the screening committee, Yilwatda, explained that some governors were excused due to official responsibilities.
He said, “Three governors have not come, so that is the issue. I said you should not single one person out when three governors have not appeared. All of them have their reasons for not appearing, and we know they are chief executives of their states with state responsibilities.
“So, any governor who has state issues to attend to, whether the governor of Kwara State, Ebonyi State, Rivers State, we excuse them. They are chief executives and field commanders. Anytime they are free, within the stipulated time, the screening committee will be available, and we will provide a slot for them.”
