Fubara Pulls Out of Rivers APC Guber Primary

​PORT HARCOURT — In a move that has sent shockwaves through the political landscape of Rivers State, the Executive Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has officially announced his withdrawal from the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial primary election.

​The decision, made public on Wednesday via an official press statement personally signed by the Governor, comes just hours before the party’s scheduled primary election.

​A Decision Borne of ‘Conviction and Sacrifice’

​Governor Fubara stated that his dramatic exit from the race followed “deep reflection and extensive consultations” with his family, political associates, and friends. He emphasized that his decision should not be misconstrued as a sign of weakness, but rather as a conscious sacrifice to maintain the fragile peace and stability of the oil-rich state.

​”Let it be clearly understood that I stepped aside from participating in the upcoming Rivers State Gubernatorial election not out of weakness, fear, or surrender, but out of conviction and sacrifice so that Rivers State may move forward in peace and unity,” Fubara stated.

​He further pledged his full commitment to supporting whoever emerges as the flagbearer of the APC in the primary election, urging party faithful to remain steadfast and united.

​Behind the Scenes: Pressures and Strategic Silence

​The Governor’s withdrawal follows months of intense political maneuvering within the Rivers State APC. Fubara, who defected to the APC from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) late last year, has been locked in a fierce battle for the control of the state’s political structure.

​Tensions reached a boiling point earlier this month when reports emerged that the Governor abruptly left an APC screening session in Abuja. This coincided with the controversial disqualification of several legislative aspirants loyal to Fubara by the party’s screening committee, while a rival faction remained cleared to contest.

​Addressing his recent political reticence and the structural hurdles he faced, Fubara invoked an old adage:

​”As our elders say, not everything a hunter sees in the forest is spoken of in the marketplace. Some truths are best borne quietly, not out of fear, but out of wisdom and restraint for the sake of peace and a greater purpose.”

​He acknowledged facing “immense pressures and difficult choices” behind closed doors but maintained that his strategic silence was intentionally maintained to safeguard the public interest.

​Reassurances to Supporters and Loyalty to the Party

​Fubara extended his deepest gratitude to his support base, acknowledging the inevitable anger, pain, and disappointment his sudden withdrawal might cause given the immense resources and hope already invested in the campaign.

​He also expressed profound appreciation to the leadership of the APC for providing the political platform, and paid special tribute to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continuous encouragement and support throughout the turbulent process.

ADVERTISEMENT

​Reassuring the populace of his governance mandate, the Governor affirmed that he remains completely focused on delivering the dividends of democracy to the state. “I remain committed to serving the good people of Rivers State till the end of my term,” Fubara concluded.

​With the incumbent governor officially out of the race, all eyes now turn to the APC state secretariat to see how the remaining contenders navigate the rescheduled primary and what this means for the broader political realignment ahead of the general election.