Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State was absent as the All Progressives Congress concluded the screening of governors and aspirants seeking various elective positions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The screening exercise, which covered serving governors seeking re-election, senatorial aspirants and presidential hopefuls, was conducted by a committee chaired by APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda.
Among those screened was President Bola Tinubu’s sole challenger for the party’s presidential ticket, Stanley Osifo.
The APC had commenced the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms on April 28, with the process closing on May 6.
Party primaries are expected to begin with House of Representatives aspirants on May 15, followed by Senate primaries on May 18, State Houses of Assembly on May 20, governorship primaries on May 21 and the presidential primary on May 23.
INEC has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.
The electoral body also fixed August 19, 2026, for the commencement of campaigns for presidential and National Assembly elections, while governorship and state assembly campaigns will begin on September 9, 2026.
Governors screened during the exercise included Abba Yusuf of Kano, Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Nasir Idris of Kebbi, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, Hyacinth Alia of Benue, Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Umar Bago of Niger, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Bassey Otu of Cross River and Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto.
A senior APC official disclosed that more than 14 governors had so far undergone screening.
“So far, we have screened over 14 governors and the exercise is still ongoing,” the official said anonymously.
Speaking after his screening, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, described the exercise as satisfactory and commended the relationship between APC governors and the party’s National Working Committee.
“Perfect, and I think it’s a normal procedure. I am satisfied,” he said.
Eno also defended the performance of the Tinubu administration, saying the President had provided support to governors despite prevailing economic challenges.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel. I feel that Nigerians know that this President needs to come back to consolidate the work that he has started,” he stated.
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Bauchi governorship aspirant, Yusuf Tuggar, however, expressed doubts over the possibility of consensus in the APC governorship race in Bauchi State.
“Well, to be honest, it is unlikely that there is going to be a consensus in Bauchi State,” Tuggar said, citing the growing number of aspirants joining the race.
He urged the APC leadership to prevent manipulation of the primary process and ensure only serious aspirants were considered.
“It is also important that any fraudulent or untoward practice is not entertained by the APC,” he added.
The presidential aspirant, Stanley Osifo, described the screening as thorough and confirmed he was questioned about challenging the incumbent president for the party’s ticket.
He maintained that he remained in the race despite the endorsement of Tinubu by party leaders.
Meanwhile, Governor Fubara’s absence generated attention amid his prolonged political rift with his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Although reports indicated that the Rivers governor obtained APC nomination forms through a proxy, he failed to appear before the screening committee by the end of the exercise on Friday and Saturday.
Responding to questions over the development, Yilwatda said governors with official state engagements were excused from appearing immediately before the committee.
“Three governors have not come, so that is the issue. I said you should not single one person out when three governors have not appeared,” he said.
“So, any governor who has state issues to attend to, whether the governor of Kwara State, Ebonyi State, Rivers State, we excuse them. They are chief executives and field commanders.”