The All Progressives Congress is preparing for a crucial round of governorship primaries across Nigeria today, amid growing tension over attempts to impose consensus candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In several states, party leaders and influential stakeholders pushed for consensus arrangements to prevent internal crises and bitter contests. However, many aspirants resisted the move, insisting on testing their popularity through the primaries.
One of the major developments came from Rivers State, where Governor Siminalayi Fubara officially withdrew from the APC governorship primary race.
Political tension had been mounting in the state after many aspirants believed to be loyal to Fubara were excluded from the list of cleared candidates for the Rivers State House of Assembly primaries. Observers had predicted a difficult path for the governor in securing the party’s ticket for a second term.
In a statement titled “My Decision to Withdraw from the Rivers State Gubernatorial Primaries,” Fubara said his withdrawal followed wide consultations and deep reflection. According to him, the decision was made to preserve peace, unity, and stability in Rivers State.
He noted that leadership sometimes demands sacrifice and stressed that the collective interest of Rivers people must come above personal ambition. Fubara also thanked his supporters, the APC, and President Bola Tinubu for their encouragement and support.
The governor maintained that his withdrawal should not be viewed as weakness or surrender but as a deliberate sacrifice aimed at ensuring peace in the state.
Fubara’s decision comes after months of political conflict within the Rivers APC, especially his prolonged battle with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Both politicians have remained at loggerheads since 2023 following disagreements over control of political structures in the oil-rich state.
The crisis eventually led to the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State in 2025, with President Tinubu suspending Fubara and other elected officials for six months before later restoring democratic governance.
Meanwhile, several APC governors across states including Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Enugu, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Ebonyi, and Jigawa emerged as consensus candidates for second terms.
Before Fubara’s withdrawal, he had been expected to compete against Wike loyalist and House of Representatives Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, alongside Dakorinama George-Kelly and Tonye Cole.
However, Tonye Cole later withdrew from the race, saying the decision was taken in the interest of party unity and stability. George-Kelly also stepped down, leaving Chinda as the sole contestant in the Rivers APC governorship primary.
Elsewhere, political tension remains high in states such as Kwara, Lagos, Plateau, Adamawa, Bauchi, and Oyo, where many aspirants rejected pressure to step down for preferred candidates.
In Plateau State, retired military officer Yilcini Bida dismissed rumours that he had stepped down for Governor Caleb Mutfwang, insisting he remains fully in the race.
Adamawa State has also witnessed intense political alignments, with supporters of Governor Ahmadu Fintiri and National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu backing different aspirants.
In Kwara State, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq endorsed Ambassador Yahaya Seriki as his preferred successor, despite resistance from over a dozen aspirants preparing to challenge the decision.
Across the country, the APC is expected to conduct direct primaries in states where consensus agreements fail, amid fears that unresolved disputes could deepen divisions within the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
