By Rita Enemuru, Reporting
RIVERS State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has announced his withdrawal from the governorship race ahead of the 2027 elections, stating that personal ambition must yield to the greater good of the state.
In a personally signed statement released in Port Harcourt on Wednesday night, the governor confirmed he would not participate in the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial primaries scheduled for Thursday, 21st May 2026.
Fubara said the decision followed wide consultations and careful consideration of the state’s political climate.
“After deep reflection and extensive consultations with my family, friends, and associates, I have taken the difficult but necessary decision to withdraw from the APC gubernatorial primaries,” he said. “I do so with a full heart and with a firm commitment to support whoever emerges as the candidate of our great party.
“Leadership is ultimately about sacrifice. There comes a time when personal ambition must yield to the greater good of the people. Rivers State is bigger than any individual, and at this critical moment, the peace, stability, and unity of our dear state must take precedence over every personal interest.”
‘Your loyalty was never in vain’
The governor addressed his supporters directly, acknowledging the disappointment his decision would cause while urging them to understand the strategic necessity of his restraint.
“To my supporters who stood firmly with me throughout this journey – who gave their time, resources, prayers, and unwavering hope – I offer my deepest gratitude,” Fubara said. “I understand the disappointment, the anger, and the pain many of you may feel. Much has indeed been invested and much sacrificed along the way. But please know that your loyalty and trust were never in vain. My silence over this period was deliberate and strategic, guided always by the higher interest of our state and our people.”
He invoked a local proverb to explain his silence in the face of pressure.
“As our elders say, not everything a hunter sees in the forest is spoken of in the marketplace. Some truths are best borne quietly, not out of fear, but out of wisdom and restraint for the sake of peace and a greater purpose. It is enough to say that I have faced immense pressures and difficult choices, but my love for Rivers State remains greater than anything else.”
‘Not weakness, but conviction’
Fubara thanked President Bola Tinubu and the APC leadership for their support, calling on party members to remain united. He stressed that stepping aside was an act of strength, not surrender.
“Let it be clearly understood that I stepped aside from participating in the upcoming Rivers State gubernatorial election not out of weakness, fear, or surrender, but out of conviction and sacrifice so that Rivers State may move forward in peace and unity,” he said. “I remain committed to serving the good people of Rivers State till the end of my term.”
What happens next?
With Fubara withdrawing on the eve of the APC primaries, attention now turns to the remaining aspirants in the race. The governor’s endorsement could prove decisive for whoever emerges as the party’s candidate.
Political analysts in Port Harcourt described the move as a stunning reversal, given Fubara’s earlier insistence on contesting. His defection to the APC – which he did not explicitly address in the statement – has been the subject of intense speculation for months. Wednesday’s announcement appears to confirm that while he has joined the governing party, he will not seek its ticket for a second term as governor.
Fubara, who assumed office in 2023 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been locked in a protracted political feud with his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. His switch to the APC and subsequent withdrawal suggest a complex realignment of forces ahead of 2027.
The governor’s current term ends in May 2027. He pledged to serve faithfully until then.
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