The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, clarified why three state governors were absent from the party’s screening exercise held on Saturday at the Plateau Governors Lodge in Abuja.
Speaking to journalists after the session, Yilwatda said the governors were excused because of official duties in their respective states. He specifically referred to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru.
“The party recognises the responsibilities attached to their offices as chief executives of their states,” Yilwatda explained. “Any governor who has issues to attend to, we understand.” He added that each governor had communicated prior that they were occupied with matters that required their immediate attention, prompting the APC to grant them leave from the screening.
Yilwatda assured that the absent governors could still be screened at a later date. “Anytime you are free, call the screening committee. We will give you a room. You can come at your own will and convenience, and we will screen you,” he said.
The APC confirmed that Governor Siminalayi Fubara will be screened on Sunday at the Plateau State Government Lodge in Abuja, as reported by Media Talk Africa. The party has not indicated similar arrangements for Governors AbdulRazaq and Nwifuru, but indicated that they remain welcome to attend the screening when their schedules permit.
The screenings are part of the APC’s internal vetting process ahead of upcoming elections, aimed at assessing the suitability of governors for continued party endorsement. By accommodating the governors’ official commitments, the party seeks to balance procedural requirements with the administrative responsibilities of state leaders.
