Political intrigue surrounding Rivers State deepened on Sunday as Governor Siminalayi Fubara appeared before the All Progressives Congress (APC) screening panel in Abuja and left barely 10 minutes later.
Fubara, whose political moves have continued to fuel speculation ahead of the Rivers governorship race, arrived quietly at the Plateau State Governor’s Lodge — the designated screening venue — at about 3:15 p.m. in an unnumbered Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).
He, however, exited the venue around 3:25 p.m., sparking fresh questions over what transpired behind closed doors and whether he was fully screened by the panel.
The Rivers governor declined to speak with journalists who swarmed around him after the brief session.
“No comments,” Fubara said tersely before walking away.
Sources at the venue told reporters that the governor appeared visibly ruffled as he left the screening ground.
APC National Secretary and secretary of the screening panel, Ajibola Basiru, also refused to disclose details of Fubara’s appearance before the committee.
“Everybody must appear before the screening committee; of course, it is necessary as part of the process,” Basiru told journalists.
Pressed further on Fubara’s fate, he said: “After the exercise, the screening committee will issue its report. When the committee has completed seeing everybody it is supposed to see, we will sit down and come up with reports. There is no report yet.”
While some incumbent governors were reportedly cleared on Friday and Saturday, Fubara and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq were initially absent from the exercise.
APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, had confirmed on Saturday that both governors obtained permission to be absent and would appear before the panel later.
The Nation gathered that AbdulRazaq was away on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s trip to France, Kenya and Rwanda.
Meanwhile, three other aspirants seeking the APC governorship ticket in Rivers State were screened on Saturday by the Dr. Ben Nwoye-led panel at the Kaduna State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.
