…. He’s now a free man, says Odinkalu
……It’s a reflection of crisis in APC — Rivers ADC
By Ahmed Akanbi, Charles Olewezi and Clarice Azuatalam (Port Harcourt)
Mixed reactions have continued to trail political developments in Rivers State, following the withdrawal of key aspirants from the governorship race, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Some supporters of Fubara expressed disappointment over his decision to withdraw from the contest, questioning why he encouraged loyalists to align with him despite what they described as his inability to confront the political influence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Others, particularly supporters of Wike, were seen celebrating the development, praising the minister’s political strength, and insisting that “no one can reap where he did not sow.”
In his reaction, former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Chidi Odinkalu, said that Fubara is “now free,” following his withdrawal from the 2027 governorship contest.
Odinkalu, who made the remark in a post shared on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday, said the development shows that Fubara may have come to terms with the realities of elective politics.
The legal scholar said recent events indicate that politics may not be Fubara’s natural calling.
He noted that the governor’s background as a civil servant placed him in a difficult position when he ventured into elective office.
Odinkalu argued that Fubara was still in public service in 2022, during the period when aspirants seeking elective office were expected, under the Electoral Act, to resign within the stipulated timeframe.
According to him, that raised questions about compliance with electoral guidelines at the time, and further complicated the governor’s political trajectory.
The former NHRC boss said the circumstances surrounding Fubara’s emergence and tenure have been a subject of legal and political debate in Rivers State.
He suggested that, with his exit from the governorship race, Fubara now has the opportunity to reconsider his professional direction.
“He is now free to return to the civil service where his future should be bright,” Odinkalu wrote, describing the development as “a moment of clarity” for the governor.
The former NHRC boss’ comments added a legal and institutional dimension to discussions surrounding Fubara’s political future, and the broader realignments in Rivers State politics ahead of the 2027 elections.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) said the crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly in Rivers State, reflected growing dissatisfaction among Nigerians.
Reacting to the wave of withdrawals from the APC governorship primaries by Fubara, Cole and Dr. Dax George Kelly on Wednesday night, the Rivers State Chairman of the ADC, Chukwudi Dimkpa, described the situation as an internal affair of the APC.
He, however, noted that the development underscored “the growing dissatisfaction, uncertainty and instability within the ruling political structure, both in Rivers State and across the country.”
Fubara withdrew from the APC governorship race on Wednesday night, citing personal reasons.
The Governor said he took the decision after a “deep reflection and extensive consultations with my family, friends, and associates.”
Fubara said it was a difficult but necessary decision to withdraw from the APC gubernatorial primaries, with a full heart and with a firm commitment to support whoever emerges as the candidate of the party.
”Leadership is ultimately about sacrifice. There comes a time when personal ambition must yield to the greater good of the people. Rivers State is bigger than any individual, and at this critical moment, the peace, stability, and unity of our dear state must take precedence over every personal interest.
”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. It is enough to say that I have faced immense pressures and difficult choices, but my love for Rivers State remains greater than anything else,” Fubara said in a statement which her personally signed.
He further thanked his party, the APC, for the platform and support extended to him throughout this process.
He also stated that he “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, and I remain committed to serving the good people of Rivers State till the end of my term.”
It should be recalled that Fubara, who was elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023, later defected to APC some months back, which made many believe was a decision that would create opportunity for him to clinch the APC gubernatorial ticket because of his assumed closeness to President Bola Tinubu.
Political observers say his decision could reshape alliances in the state, as stakeholders reposition ahead of the next election cycle.
Rivers State remains a key battleground for the 2027 polls, with multiple factions within the PDP and opposition parties jostling for influence.
Fubara, alongside a businessman, Tonye Cole, and Wike ally, George Kelly, had, in separate statements, announced their withdrawal from the governorship race