ABUJA – In a move that has fundamentally recalibrated the political landscape of the South-South region, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially cleared the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, to participate in its upcoming governorship primaries. The decision, which follows months of intense speculation and complex cross-party maneuvering, marks a definitive shift in Fubara’s political journey and sets the stage for a high-stakes confrontation in the 2027 general elections.
The clearance was confirmed by high-ranking party sources on Monday, May 12, 2026, ending a period of uncertainty regarding the Governor’s standing within the ruling party. Fubara, who was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023, has been at the center of a protracted and bitter feud with his predecessor and the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. His formal entry into the APC fold and subsequent clearance to seek a second term under the broom symbol is viewed by analysts as a masterstroke of political survival that effectively strips his opponents of the party machinery they once controlled.
The clearance of Governor Fubara was part of a massive administrative undertaking by the APC’s national leadership. According to internal documents and party sources, a total of 30 sitting governors—including Fubara and the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma—have been cleared as eligible aspirants. This massive wave of approvals underscores the APC’s strategy of incumbency consolidation as it prepares for what is expected to be a fiercely contested electoral cycle.
The APC screening panels, which operated across various zones, reportedly evaluated a staggering 2,980 aspirants for various positions. The breakdown of these aspirants highlights the scale of the party's reach: one presidential slot, 28 governorship positions, 109 senatorial seats, 360 House of Representatives seats, and 991 state assembly positions. While the party had originally intended to publish the comprehensive list of cleared candidates by Tuesday, May 13, the process has been slightly delayed by a flood of petitions currently being reviewed by the National Working Committee. Despite these administrative hurdles, a top party leader, speaking on the condition of anonymity, assured the public that the delay was a sign of thoroughness rather than crisis.
We are still working on the screening report to make sure everything goes well, the source stated. When pressed on the missed deadline, the official remained optimistic, noting that the day is not over and emphasizing that each petition is being treated on its individual merit to ensure the party approaches the 2027 polls with a unified and legally sound front.
In the hours leading up to the announcement, rumors had circulated through various digital channels suggesting that Governor Fubara might have been booted out due to internal party friction or legal technicalities regarding his defection. However, the APC hierarchy moved swiftly to quash these reports. No governor has been booted out, the source clarified. The party has always supported its governors. Some of them, like Hope Uzodimma of Imo, essentially received automatic clearance due to their standing and contributions to the party’s growth.
The inclusion of Fubara on the cleared list signifies that the APC has prioritized the capture of Rivers State—a perennial electoral prize—over the internal grievances of factional leaders. For Fubara, the clearance provides a much-needed safe harbor from the legislative and legal onslaught he faced within the state’s PDP structure.
While the news was largely positive for incumbents, the situation in Oyo State remains precarious. Reports indicate that the former Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who has been eyeing the Oyo State governorship seat, may be facing significant hurdles. Internal sources suggest that an axe dangles over Adelabu’s candidacy due to undisclosed issues within his screening file. In contrast, Sarafadeen Alli, a former Secretary to the Oyo State Government, has emerged as a favored figure within the party. Alli’s clearance has reportedly been met with enthusiasm from the party leadership, though it has simultaneously fueled allegations of imposition from rival factions within the Oyo APC.
A group of governorship aspirants in Oyo, including former Deputy Governor Rauf Olaniyan and several prominent party stakeholders like Akeem Agbaje and Dr. Ololade Bakare, issued a stern communiqué following a meeting in Ibadan. While the group reaffirmed their loyalty to President Bola Tinubu, they vowed to resist any attempt to bypass internal democracy. Imposition is a betrayal of democracy, and we reject it totally, completely, and without compromise, the communiqué stated. We are not enemies of consensus... but let consensus never become a cover for exclusion or manipulation. The process must be transparent, free, fair, and clean.
The screening exercise also brought to the fore the simmering tension in Ogun East, where the battle for the senatorial ticket has pitted Governor Dapo Abiodun against the incumbent Senator and former Governor, Gbenga Daniel. Sources reveal that Daniel has refused to consent to a consensus arrangement, insisting instead on a competitive process. The Ogun State government reacted sharply to Daniel’s stance, characterizing his recent criticisms of Governor Abiodun as the rantings of a drowning politician. In a statement released by the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, the government accused Daniel of hypocrisy for attacking the same consensus process that facilitated his emergence as Senator in 2023.
It is ironic that Daniel, who benefited immensely from the collective decision of the party, is now demonizing the same process simply because it no longer aligns with his personal ambition, Akinmade said. The statement further accused the former governor of ignoring basic economic realities in his critiques of the state’s infrastructure projects and alleged that he had engaged in anti-party activities during the 2023 elections.
In rebuttal, the media aide to Senator Daniel, Steve Oliyide, dismissed the consensus narrative, asserting that his boss won a landslide victory in a delegate-based primary. Oliyide cited figures showing Daniel polled 450 out of 496 votes cast, arguing that his mandate was derived from the people, not a backroom deal.
In Ondo State, the political temperature has spiked as Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa reportedly bowed to pressure from the APC National Working Committee to adopt direct primaries. Initially, Aiyedatiwa had advocated for a consensus arrangement, but faced with stiff resistance from a crowded field of aspirants and the national leadership's preference for a more inclusive process, the Governor has signaled his alignment with the National Working Committee's directive.
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, confirmed that the Ondo APC would conduct direct primaries scheduled for May 15, 18, and 20, 2026. The Ondo State chapter of the party remains committed to abiding by the guidelines and internal democratic principles laid down by the national leadership, Ajanaku stated. The move toward direct primaries has prompted a significant security response. The Ondo State Police Command, under Commissioner Adebowale Lawal, has commenced show-of-force operations across key local government areas like Idanre and Owo. The police have warned that no form of thuggery, voter intimidation, or cult-related disturbances will be tolerated as the state enters its primary season.
As the APC prepares to release the full and final list of cleared aspirants, the party's overarching strategy appears to be a delicate balancing act. The leadership is pushing for consensus as the first option to prevent the kind of internal litigation that has historically crippled the party in states like Zamfara and Rivers. However, the national committee has made it clear that where consensus fails, the party will not hesitate to employ direct primaries to ensure legitimacy.
We know some of the high-profile aspirants don’t want to consent and are ready to go to court, a party insider admitted. We don’t want that. We are meticulously addressing all petitions to ensure transparency and fairness before the final release.
The clearance of Siminalayi Fubara is perhaps the most consequential outcome of this screening cycle. By bringing Fubara fully into the APC incumbency tent, the party has effectively altered the electoral math for 2027. With Fubara now an officially cleared APC aspirant, the remnants of the PDP in Rivers State are left without the backing of the state executive. This forces the pro-Wike faction of the PDP into a difficult position: either return to the APC and compete with Fubara on his new turf or remain in a PDP that has lost its primary source of state power.
Furthermore, Fubara’s control over the Rivers State treasury and administrative machinery now serves the interests of the APC. This is a massive win for the national leadership, which has long coveted the state’s significant voter turnout and financial contributions. Fubara’s move completes a trajectory that began during the 2023 elections. It signals the final collapse of the old political order in Rivers and the birth of a new, albeit volatile, realignment.
As the political community awaits the official publication of the list, the APC headquarters in Abuja remains a hive of activity. The resolution of the petitions—ranging from allegations of certificate forgery to claims of anti-party behavior—will be the final hurdle before the primaries begin in earnest. The Independent National Electoral Commission timelines are looming, and the APC knows it cannot afford further delays. The coming days will be critical for aspirants like Adebayo Adelabu, whose political future hangs in the balance, and for the various third-force coalitions watching for signs of a split within the ruling party.
For now, the story is one of consolidation. By clearing 30 governors and thousands of other aspirants, the APC is signaling that it is ready to defend its one presidential slot and its various state houses with all the power and patronage at its disposal. In Rivers, the fresh water has finally met the broom. Whether this mixture leads to a clear path for Governor Fubara or a murky season of legal challenges remains to be seen. But for today, Fubara stands tall as a cleared aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, ready to lead the charge into the 2027 general elections.
The marathon toward 2027 is no longer a distant prospect; it has become a present reality. With the clearance of Governor Fubara and his colleagues, the All Progressives Congress has officially fired the starting gun for the most anticipated primary season in recent Nigerian history. Every petition handled and every aspirant cleared adds another layer to the complex narrative of a party determined to retain its grip on power. As the May 13 deadline transitions into the final realization of the candidate list, the eyes of the nation remain fixed on Abuja, waiting to see who will lead the APC into the next era.
