The political future of Siminalayi Fubara within the All Progressives Congress came under fresh scrutiny on Sunday after the Rivers State governor reportedly walked out of the party’s screening exercise in Abuja.
Fubara, who was absent during Saturday’s screening of incumbent governors seeking re-election, arrived at the Plateau Governor’s Lodge, venue of the exercise, at about 3pm on Sunday.
However, the governor spent less than 30 minutes inside the screening room before emerging visibly upset and leaving the venue without addressing the outcome of the exercise.
Attempts by journalists to speak with him were unsuccessful as the governor declined comments.
“No comment,” Fubara reportedly told reporters waiting outside the venue.
Observers at the exercise noted that unlike other governors and aspirants who were accompanied out of the venue by members of the screening committee, Fubara left alone, while committee members reportedly remained behind before exiting minutes later.
The screening session was chaired by the APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Ali Dalori.
The latest development comes amid the lingering political crisis between Fubara and his estranged political ally, Nyesom Wike.
There have been speculations within political circles that Wike’s camp is backing the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, for the Rivers governorship ticket.
Unconfirmed reports also suggested that one of Wike’s sons may be eyeing Chinda’s current seat in the House of Representatives representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency.
Chinda was reportedly among the first aspirants screened by the party on Saturday.
Speaking after the exercise, the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, said the screening process was still ongoing and declined to confirm whether Fubara had successfully scaled through the exercise.
“I don’t know what you mean by screened. Anybody that appears before the committee has fulfilled part of the process. The committee will submit its report after concluding its assignment,” Basiru said.
Earlier, the National Chairman of the APC, Nentawe Yilwatda, had defended Fubara’s initial absence from the exercise, explaining that the governor was attending to official state matters.
Yilwatda noted that governors of Kwara and Ebonyi states were also absent for similar reasons, stressing that the party remained flexible in accommodating governors’ schedules.
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