FROM CLARICE AZUATALAM, PORT HARCOURT. 

The mood in Rivers State on Thursday, May 21, 2026, was generally that of melancholy following the withdrawal of State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara from the All Progressives Congress ( APC) governorship primaries was done after a meeting

The governor on Wednesday night, May 20, 2026 issued a statement that he had withdrawn from the APC primaries in the interest of peace and stability of the state.

He said he withdrew “after consultations with his family, supporters and political associates” adding that ” the overriding interest of Rivers State influenced his decision to step aside from the contest.”

Fubara also stated that: “Let it be clearly understood that I stepped aside, not out of weakness, fear or surrender but out of conviction and sacrifice so that Rivers State may move forward in peace and unity.”

He also said that ” preserving unity and stability in Rivers State remained more important than pursuing personal ambition”, promising to support whoever emerges as the governorship candidate of the party .

Reacting to governor Fubara’s withdrawal from the APC gubernatorial primaries, analysts say that he has thrown people of the State into despondency.

They are asking why ” a whole governor who is in charge of the state’s fund can not use what he has to fight for his right.”

In his own reaction, a member of APC in the state who spoke on grounds of anonymity, told Newstracker that ” Fubara found himself in helpless situation.

” The President who first urged and encouraged him to defect from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to APC to enable him clinch the governorship ticket, later backtracked at the 11th hour.

” From what we hear, the FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike has an upper hand over President Bola Tinubu as far as issues of Rivers state are concerned.”

The APC stalwart also said that it was regrettable that despite what some other governors like Hope Uzodinmma of Imo State did to ensure that Fubara got the ticket, ” the man just rubbished all those efforts.”

As a further proof of Wike’s manipulation, another of his loyalist, Alabo George-Kelly who the FCT minister initially asked to go and pick the APC gubernatorial primaries form also withdrew from the race.

George-Kelly who served as Commissioner for Works when Wike was governor of the state said he his decision to withdraw was after due consultations with members of his political team and critical stakeholders, which was done after a meeting convened by the national leadership of APC.

He described himself as a committed member of Rivers State Rainbow Coalition for President Bola Tinubu under the leadership of Wike.

He also stated that the decision was taken in overriding interest of party cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections.

George-Kelly further pledged his unwavering support, loyalty and cooperation to whoever emerges as the party’s candidate at the end of the primaries.

Similarly, Tonye Cole in his own statement that same Wednesday said he was withdrawing following consultations with members of his political team and stakeholders within the APC in the State.

Cole also stated that: ” I have taken the decision in the overriding interest of party unity, peace and collective progress to respect the supremacy of the party and withdraw from the primaries.

However, at the primaries that eventually took place in Port Harcourt on Thursday, May 21, 2026, Kingsley Chinda emerged winner as he was the lone contestant in the primaries.

Chinda is the Minority leader in the House of Representatives and hails from the same Obio/Akpor local government area of Rivers State.

Chinda who has been an ally of Wike initially took form to run under his former party, the PDP but Wike later dissuaded him and later pushed him to APC.

However, while Chinda has clinched the APC gubernatorial ticket, the elder brother to governor Fubara, by name, Mr Blessing Fubara has picked up the expression of interest form to contest the governorship primaries under the platform of Nigeria Democratic Congress.

Blessing expressed his optimism in being on the ballot paper, come next year.

#ENDS.