Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara declined to answer journalists’ questions after appearing before the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship screening committee in Abuja on Sunday. The screening, held at the Plateau State Governors’ Lodge in Asokoro, brought together incumbent governors seeking re‑election ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election. The APC’s National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, chaired the panel that examined the governors’ eligibility and performance.
Fubara arrived at the venue in the morning, participated in the questioning session, and then left the hall. When reporters approached him for comment, he responded only with a terse “No comment,” refusing to elaborate on the proceedings or his prospects for the upcoming election.
The event marks the first collective vetting of sitting governors by the ruling party since the 2023 electoral cycle. While the APC has not disclosed the criteria or timeline for issuing its final endorsements, the screening is expected to influence candidate selection for the 2027 race. Fubara’s brief dismissal of the press has drawn attention from local observers, who suggest the governor’s silence may be a tactical move to avoid speculation ahead of the party’s internal deliberations.
The Rivers State capital, Port Harcourt, has yet to release an official statement on the governor’s performance at the screening. The APC’s process is part of a broader effort to consolidate party unity and present a cohesive slate of candidates for the 2027 polls. By assessing incumbents’ records, the party aims to address internal dissent and pre‑empt challenges from opposition factions. As the political calendar turns toward the next general election, the outcomes of the screenings will shape Nigeria’s electoral landscape, and stakeholders will watch closely for indications of how the APC intends to balance continuity with calls for reform among its governing ranks.
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