BREAKING NEWS: Rivers Gov. Fubara Storms Out Of APC Screening Exercise In Abuja, Refuses To Speak To Journalists

BREAKING NEWS: Rivers Gov. Fubara Storms Out Of APC Screening Exercise In Abuja, Refuses To Speak To Journalists.

Fubara, who is seeking another term in office amid an intensifying political feud with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, reportedly spent only about 20 minutes inside the screening room before emerging visibly upset.

 

The re-election bid of Siminalayi Fubara appeared to hit a fresh hurdle on Sunday after the Rivers State governor stormed out of the screening exercise organised by the All Progressives Congress in Abuja and declined to address journalists waiting at the venue.

Fubara, who is seeking another term in office amid an intensifying political feud with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, reportedly spent only about 20 minutes inside the screening room before emerging visibly upset.

According to Daily Trust, unlike other incumbent governors who underwent screening on Saturday and were received warmly by members of the party’s screening committee, Fubara’s outing took a dramatically different turn as he exited the venue without the usual ceremonial escort traditionally accorded governors and other high-profile aspirants.

Journalists who had waited several hours for the governor’s arrival attempted to speak with him after the exercise, but Fubara declined to offer details about what transpired during the session.

When asked by reporters how the screening went, the visibly distressed governor tersely responded, “No comment.”

Observers at the venue noted that since the commencement of the screening exercise, members of the committee had consistently escorted governors seeking re-election or senatorial tickets out of the hall as a mark of respect and endorsement of the process. However, in Fubara’s case, no committee member accompanied him out, further fuelling speculation that his appearance before the panel may not have gone smoothly.

Speaking shortly after the session, the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, avoided giving a direct answer when asked whether the Rivers governor had successfully scaled the screening exercise.

“I don’t know what you mean by ‘screened.’ Anyone who appears before the committee does so as a necessary part of the process. Once the committee has seen everyone, they will sit down and produce a report. As of now, there is no report from the screening committee,” Basiru said.

The development comes against the backdrop of the prolonged political crisis between Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, a conflict that has continued to polarise the political structure in Rivers State and split the state House of Assembly into rival factions loyal to both camps.

Wike, who served as Fubara’s predecessor and once acted as his political godfather, later fell out with him following their rift.

The feud between the two leaders has deepened over the years despite several reconciliation attempts by top political figures, including President Bola Tinubu.

Earlier, SaharaReporters had reported that Wike publicly criticised Fubara, accusing the governor of abandoning governance in pursuit of political ambition ahead of the next election cycle.

Wike also referenced Tinubu’s intervention during the height of the political crisis that nearly culminated in impeachment proceedings against the governor.

“President Tinubu intervened in the impeachment proceedings and the governor agreed to peace, even saying he was no longer interested in contesting again. Now, after that intervention, you are playing smart on what was agreed,” Wike had said.