APC National Chair Discloses Why Fubara Withdrew From Gov'ship Primary

• APC national chairman has reiterated that Governor Siminalayi Fubara's withdrawal from the party's primary was a personal decision, ensuring due process was followed
• However, Nigerians have expressed mixed reactions, comparing Fubara's situation to other political figures and criticising his strategy
• The comments have revealed frustration over political loyalty and the impact of godfatherism in Nigeria's governance landscape

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, has said that the withdrawal of Governor Siminalayi Fubara from the party's governorship primary in Rivers was his personal decision. He insisted that the ruling APC followed due process throughout the exercise.

Yilwatda explained that the Rivers governor voluntarily stepped down from the governorship primary race following his completion of the APC's screening process.

His statement, while speaking on Channels TV on Monday, May 25, reads in part:

“He pulled out; he stepped down. It is personal to him. He bought the forms, came for screening, passed the screening, and we were waiting for the primaries before he opted to step down.”

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Nigerians react as Fubara withdraws from APC primary

However, the withdrawal of Governor Fubara from the APC governorship primary has generated reactions from Nigerians. Below are some of their comments:

Bakatsine condemned the governor for not fighting:

"A whole sitting governor getting bullied out of a second term is actually crazy. At that point, can you even call him a politician anymore? Makes me wonder what Fubara was promised behind closed doors before joining APC, because politically this feels more like surrender than strategy."

Mmanua Pro compared the case of Governor Fubara to that of Godwin Obaseki in Edo:

"This is what could've been Obaseki's case, but the man stood on his ground and re-strategised and decamped to another party and eventually won the second term election. Power doesn't stay with weak people! Another Ambode in Rivers State. The concept of godfatherism is not stopping anytime soon in Nigeria. Only if he had the balls, he would have gone the "Obaseki way." Unfortunately, he's a weak man."

Dexter Sunny Ayodele said the governor had been technically defeated:

"Little political skit makers pushing Fubara have eventually thrown him under the bus. Loyalty in political arenas is a discipline that political children need to understand. I don't support greed, but Loyalty has never been ambiguous, particularly when you rode on it to grow."

Skood said that the governor was never a politician:

"Fubara was never a politician. This is what happens when people have no conviction to go into office but are offered the post. Four years of governance wasted on a power tussle. Rivers State was set back the most. Nyesom Wike will simply get another candidate to win the primary."

Read more comments on Governor Fubara stepping down on X below:

APC constitutes the presidential primary election committee

Legit.ng earlier reported that the APC announced the constitution of its presidential primary election committee just as it was rounding up with its governorship primaries.

Anyim Pius Anyim, a former Senate president between 2000 and 2003, also served as the SGF under former President Goodluck Jonathan's administration, was appointed chairman of the committee.

Another former Senate president and ex-speaker of the House of Representatives were members of the committee, while Siminalayi Fubara and other APC governors were appointed state coordinators.