EXCLUSIVE: Tinubu Allegedly Directs APC Screening Panel to Accept Only Fubara-Endorsed Candidates in Rivers

Fresh political developments in Rivers State have introduced new tensions within the All Progressives Congress (APC), following reports that President Bola Tinubu has directed the party’s screening committee to recognise only candidates endorsed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The reported directive, attributed to unnamed sources and cited by The Southern Examiner, was allegedly communicated to the chairman of the APC screening committee, Hope Uzodimma, ahead of preparations for the 2027 general elections. Ejes Gist News reports that the claim has not been independently confirmed by official party or presidential sources at the time of filing this report.

The development has heightened uncertainty among APC aspirants in Rivers State, with several reportedly intensifying efforts to secure political backing as the party’s internal processes approach. The situation reflects a shifting power structure within the state’s political landscape.

Recent defections have further altered the balance of power. Seventeen members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, moved from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, leaving a smaller bloc within the PDP as the main opposition in the state.

The defections followed Governor Fubara’s switch to the APC in December 2025, a move that repositioned him within the state’s political hierarchy. Since then, multiple reports indicate that aspirants for legislative positions are seeking his endorsement amid indications of increasing influence within party structures.

Sources cited in the report suggest that Fubara’s backing is emerging as a decisive factor for aspirants, although this claim remains unverified by official party channels.

Meanwhile, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is reported to be mobilising his political base in response. At a meeting with loyalists in Abuja, Wike was said to have urged defected lawmakers to return to the PDP, while also offering assurances of support to incumbents.

However, several lawmakers are reportedly reluctant to defect again, citing evolving political dynamics within the APC and the perceived advantages of remaining within the ruling party.

 

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Political observers have linked the ongoing manoeuvring to broader national calculations, including discussions around zoning of the PDP’s 2027 presidential ticket to the South-South region, which could influence alliances in Rivers State.

There are also indications of emerging strains between Wike and the presidency, despite continued engagement at the federal level. The involvement of key figures such as Nuhu Ribadu has been referenced in political circles, though no official statements have clarified their roles in the reported developments.

Analysts say the current alignment could strengthen Fubara’s position within the APC ahead of future electoral contests. At the same time, supporters of Wike maintain that the political outcome in Rivers State remains uncertain, with ongoing consultations and potential alternative candidacies still under consideration.

 

The situation continues to evolve, with party stakeholders expected to clarify positions as the APC’s internal processes for the 2027 elections progress.