Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara was absent from the All Progressives Congress, APC, screening exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections, where 14 governors and other aspirants were vetted by the party’s screening committee in Abuja. The development, where Fubara missed APC screening, drew attention as the ruling party continues its internal nomination process.
The APC screening exercise is part of internal party procedures designed to assess aspirants seeking elective positions under its platform ahead of the 2027 elections. The process covers governorship, senatorial, and presidential aspirants across the federation.
The exercise is a key step in determining eligibility for party primaries and ensuring compliance with internal rules and electoral guidelines. It also forms part of wider preparations by the party ahead of its nomination timetable. The incident of Fubara missed APC screening occurred during a period of heightened political activity within the ruling party, as governors and other aspirants undergo evaluation for various positions.
According to reports, the APC screening committee assessed more than 14 serving governors alongside other political office seekers during the exercise held in Abuja.
Governors from states including Kano, Gombe, Kebbi, Plateau, Benue, Ebonyi, Delta, Niger, Zamfara, Cross River, and Sokoto were among those screened for various positions. The screening committee was chaired by APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, who supervised the exercise alongside other party officials.
The situation where Fubara missed APC screening was confirmed during the proceedings, with party officials noting that the Rivers State governor did not appear on the scheduled day of assessment. Explaining the absence, the committee leadership stated that governors with official state duties or unavoidable engagements could be rescheduled within the screening timetable.
Officials further noted that state governors are chief executives of their respective states and may not always be available during fixed screening schedules. The exercise also included screening of presidential aspirants and other political figures as part of the APC’s broader preparation for the 2027 elections.
His absence highlights the logistical flexibility within the party’s nomination process, particularly for serving governors balancing administrative duties and political obligations.
The screening process remains central to candidate selection within the APC and plays a critical role in determining who advances to party primaries. Political observers note that such absences are not uncommon in large-scale party screenings, especially involving sitting governors with governance responsibilities.
