PORT-HARCOURT – Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries scheduled for tomorrow Thursday May 21, 2026 in a dramatic twist that further deepens the political realignments in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Fubara announced his withdrawal in a personally signed statement on Wednesday night titled, “My Decision to Withdraw from the Rivers State Gubernatorial Primaries.”
The governor said his decision followed wide consultations with family members, political associates and close allies, adding that he remained committed to the unity and success of the APC in Rivers State.
“After deep reflection and extensive consultations with my family, friends, and associates, I have taken the difficult but necessary decision to withdraw from the APC gubernatorial primaries. I do so with a full heart and with a firm commitment to support whoever emerges as the candidate of our great party,” the statement read.
Fubara’s withdrawal comes against the backdrop of months of intense political tension and power struggle in Rivers State, particularly the lingering face-off between him and his predecessor, former governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
The crisis, which began shortly after Fubara assumed office in 2023, led to a bitter division within the Rivers State House of Assembly, mass defections by lawmakers, repeated impeachment threats and violent political confrontations across the state.
At the peak of the crisis, the state Assembly complex was engulfed in controversy, following an explosion and subsequent demolition of parts of the facility, while parallel legislative sittings and legal battles further heightened political uncertainty in the oil-rich state.
Several attempts by political stakeholders and elders to reconcile both camps yielded little success, despite interventions by President Bola Tinubu and other national leaders of the APC and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Fubara’s recent political romance with the APC had already generated widespread debate within the Rivers political landscape, with analysts describing his move as part of broader calculations ahead of the next electoral cycle.
However, sources within the party hinted that disagreements over the structure of APC in Rivers State, zoning considerations and internal alignments may have contributed to the governor’s decision to step aside from the contest.
Party loyalists and political observers believe the withdrawal may pave the way for consensus arrangements within the APC, as leaders work to prevent another round of internal divisions capable of weakening the party’s chances in the state.
Despite stepping down from the race, Fubara assured supporters that he would continue to work for peace, stability and the overall success of the APC in Rivers State.
