The ruling All Progressives Congress appears to have opened the political space in Rivers State, with indications that the party is positioning a leader of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to play a decisive role in producing the party’s governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 elections.

This comes following a closely watched screening exercise where key ministerial allies, including former House of Representatives Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda and the state Commissioner for Works, Alabo Dakorinama George Kelly, were assessed by the screening committee chaired by APC Deputy National Chairman, Benjamin Nwoye.

However, on Sunday credible party sources with knowledge of the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak on the issu, disclosed that tension briefly trailed the process as Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, received a “cold shoulder” from the governorship screening committee led by APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda.

One of our correspondents, who was at the Plateau State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, the venue of the screening on Sunday, observed that Fubara stormed out of the venue following the alleged cold reception meted out to him by the Yilwatda-led committee.

Reacting, the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, who chaired the committee due to the absence of Yilwatda, revealed that reports of the screening exercise would be released soon.

The APC commenced the sale of its Expression of Interest and Nomination forms on April 28, with the exercise ending at midnight on May 6.

Screening of serving governors seeking re-election or contesting other elective positions began on May 8 and concluded on May 10.

The party slated May 11 (today) for the release of screening reports, while screening appeals are expected to hold on May 12 and May 13.

The party had earlier adopted both consensus arrangement and direct primaries in line with the Electoral Act 2025.

The primaries are scheduled to hold in phases, starting with the House of Representatives on May 15, followed by the Senate on May 18, State Houses of Assembly on May 20, governorship on May 21, and the presidential primary on May 23. Appeal committees are expected to sit after each stage to resolve disputes arising from the exercises.

Also, the Independent National Electoral Commission fixed the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.

INEC also stated that political parties were to conduct their primaries and resolve all related disputes between April 23 and May 30, 2026.

According to the commission, campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on August 19, 2026, while campaigns for governorship and state Assembly elections are scheduled to commence on September 9, 2026.

Since the commencement of the screening exercise, the committee led by Nentawe Yilwatda, tasked with screening governors seeking re-election as well as those aspiring to contest senatorial seats, has screened several state governors.

Those screened include Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State, Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, Nasir Idris of Kebbi State, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, and Hyacinth Alia of Benue State.

Others include the Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, and his Delta State counterpart, Sheriff Oborevwori.

The committee also screened Niger State Governor, Umar Bago; Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal; Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu; and Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, among others.

However, the Governor of Rivers State was notably absent from the screening exercise on Friday and Saturday but appeared on Sunday, spending about seven minutes with the screening committee.

Fubara has been embroiled in a political conflict for close to three years with his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over control of political structures in the oil-rich state.

Fubara reportedly obtained the APC governorship Expression of Interest and Nomination forms through a proxy, contrary to Wike’s preference.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory had described Fubara as a betrayer and had, on several occasions, vowed that he would not be allowed to return for a second term as governor.

Wike, a factional national leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, is in control of both PDP and APC structures in Rivers State through an arrangement he described as “Rainbow Coalition,” and has pledged that his group will produce Fubara’s successor.

Fubara on Sunday, arrived at the Plateau Governor’s Lodge for the screening at about 3.15pm but, less than 10 minutes later, he left the screening room in anger and proceeded directly to his unnumbered SUV parked at the entrance of the venue.

When approached by journalists to comment on how the exercise went, Fubara, who appeared visibly moody, simply said, “No comment.”

One of the sources confirmed to our reporter that Kingsley Chinda and Kelly were screened without any drama, as they are considered allies of Wike.

He stated, “Chinda and Kelly appeared before the screening committee. The screening exercise for the two Rivers State governorship aspirants was, from all indications, hitch-free. In Abuja, they presented their credentials and answered questions like other aspirants. The process was smooth, as both men are loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

“The two were not previously members of the All Progressives Congress but only recently joined after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party. They were directed by Wike to obtain the APC governorship forms.

“Fubara also appeared before the screening committee, but his session was different. He was given a cold shoulder during the process. The party’s national chairman, who ordinarily would preside over the screening of governors seeking re-election or governors that are senatorial aspirants, was notably absent. Although other committee members conducted the exercise, Fubara’s screening was strangely very brief, the shortest among all governors screened.

“I am aware he was asked a few questions, but from the body language of our people and the nature of the interaction, you will know that they are not aligned with him, partly due to his strained relationship with his predecessor, Wike, who now enjoys the support of President Bola Tinubu and even the APC leadership.

“The APC national leadership has given the minister control of the party structure in Rivers State, and that is what the Presidency wants. With that arrangement, either Chinda, Kelly, or any other candidate endorsed by Wike would emerge as the party’s governorship candidate. This screening is a pointer to that fact, as the aspirants are dominated by his men.”

When approached after the exercise, the National Secretary of the APC and Secretary of the Screening Committee, Ajibola Basiru, disclosed that the report would be released soon.

He stated, “Every aspirant must appear before the screening committee; of course, it is necessary as part of the process. After the exercise, the screening committee will issue its report.

“As at now, the screening committee, when it has completed seeing everybody it is supposed to see, will now sit down and come up with a report on the screening. As at now, there is no report from the screening committee.”

Efforts by our correspondent to reach the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, and his deputy, Duro Meseko, were unsuccessful as they did not respond to calls at the time of filing this report.

In response to inquiries from The PUNCH, an aide to Siminalayi Fubara said the governor did not spend much time at the screening because he was immediately cleared by the committee.

Fubara’s aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, stated, “The governor has been cleared. There was nothing much to ask him, you know, as an incumbent governor. So, he was immediately cleared and asked to take a bow and go.”

When asked why he appeared unhappy and declined to speak to the media after the screening, he said, “Everyone has the right to speak or not to speak to the press and there is nothing wrong with that. What is important is that the governor has been cleared by the committee.”

In a related development, a Taraba governorship aspirant, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, said he was screened for the position and described the exercise as a positive experience.

He commended APC officials, noting their competence and humility, and expressed satisfaction with the process.

Sambo, who is contesting against the incumbent Governor Agbu Kefas in the APC primary, said he preferred direct primaries, describing them as more democratic and a test of popularity.

He stated, “Direct primary is more democratic, and it tests your popularity. So, if you are good, you win outright. In brief, and most importantly, you come out a winner. Other contestants should be able to come together and work with you to build a great party and a great future for the state.

“I am for development, especially infrastructure. The few months I spent as Minister of Transportation in the last dispensation is a testament to what I can do. Taraba residents will tell you that. And I will do it as governor, even much better.”

Similarly, Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies and a Kwara governorship aspirant, Professor Abubakar Sulieman, described his screening by the APC committee as smooth and thorough.

Speaking on the mode of primaries, Sulaiman backed consensus arrangement provided the party sets clear benchmarks for evaluating aspirants.

He stated, “What Kwara should expect is already known to the people because it is not about rhetoric or theories. What I have done before and what I am doing currently speak for me. I was the Minister of National Planning, and my records are there. I was a lecturer at the university, and my students can attest to my character and capacity. I have also spent seven years as Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, and my scorecards are there for people to see.

“Talk about youth inclusivity, gender inclusivity, infrastructure, human capital development, and workers’ welfare — my records are there for people to assess.

“So, based on what they see, feel, and have experienced under my leadership where I have worked and where I am working now, Kwara people should decide.”

Also, Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly and a governorship aspirant, Yakubu Salihu, expressed confidence in his ambition, saying he believes God will guide him to success. Reacting to claims that he is an “anointed candidate,” Danladi said he would welcome such support and pledged to move Kwara State to the next level if elected.

Meanwhile, a Bauchi State governorship aspirant, Nura Manu, described his screening by the APC committee as interactive and productive.

Speaking on his proposed N100bn fund, Manu clarified that the initiative was not designed for security operations as widely speculated.

According to him, the fund is intended to support the commercialisation of agriculture and boost small-scale enterprises as part of his broader development agenda for Bauchi State.

On the issue of consensus arrangements ahead of the party primaries, Manu said he was unaware of any such move in Bauchi State.

He stressed that he had been preparing fully for the election and had no intention of stepping down for any aspirant.

On his part, an APC Plateau State governorship aspirant, Commander Yilchini Jan Bida (retd.), described the screening exercise as transparent and reflective of the party’s commitment to internal democracy.

The retired military officer also expressed confidence in emerging as the party’s governorship candidate, insisting that Plateau people were solidly behind his ambition.

He stated, “I am very confident that there is going to be a direct primary. They have handed over the power to the people to decide who becomes the next governor. So, Plateau people are behind me. They are waiting for me to return home, and hopefully, I will be sworn in as Governor of Plateau State on May 29, 2027.

 “If you look at what is happening now, you can see the excitement on the Plateau. When I picked up my forms, the people of Plateau celebrated and jubilated with me because they know my capability. When I submitted my forms, they also celebrated. And I can assure you that this (Sunday) evening there is going to be celebration on the Plateau because I was screened successfully. Plateau people are waiting for me, and hopefully we will all smile in victory when I emerge from the primaries.”