APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda don tok say Governor Siminalayi Fubara withdrawal from Rivers State APC governorship primary na im personal decision. According to Yilwatda, di party follow due process for di whole exercise.
Yilwatda, wey appear for Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, explain say Fubara voluntarily withdraw from di race after di party screening finish. “He pull out; he step down. E personal to am. He buy forms, come for screening, pass screening, and we dey wait for primaries before he opt to step down,” im tok.
Di party national chairman further dismiss suggestions say Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, influence di outcome of APC primary for Rivers State. “Wike no dey our party. E dey PDP,” Yilwatda tok when dem ask am about claims say di former Rivers governor get hand for di process and say Fubara no fit secure APC ticket.
Last week, APC issue several comprehensive disqualification lists for legislative and governorship aspirants after di conclusion of national screening exercises ahead of 2027 general elections. Yilwatda address di disqualification of some aspirants, stress say APC rules require all contestants to be financially active members of di party. “Our party guidelines state say before you dey qualified to contest for any position, you must be financial member of di party. Di constitution of di party say you must get evidence of paying your dues before you fit contest, be voted for, or be nominated. If somebody neva pay im dues and get no proof of being financial member, e stand disqualified. You must be member of APC,” im tok.
On questions concerning di eligibility of House of Representatives member wey be di minority leader for lower chamber, Kingsley Chinda, but secure APC governorship ticket for Rivers, Yilwatda say, “He defect. Our party get no waiver system. Even if you decamp to our party today, you fit enjoy equal rights with every other member once you properly registered.”
Fubara earlier announce im withdrawal from APC governorship primary, cite di need to prioritise peace, stability, and unity for Rivers State ahead of 2027 governorship election. But dem raise questions since di governor bin dey affiliated with im former political godfather, Wike.
Meanwhile, another aspirant, Tonye Cole, also withdraw from APC governorship race, pledge loyalty to party decisions while Fubara promise support for di eventual APC candidate. Chinda later emerge as APC governorship candidate for di oil-rich South-South state.
