Fubara passed APC gov screening before withdrawing — Yilwatda

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara was indeed cleared by the All Progressives Congress (APC) screening committee before he opted to withdraw from the party's governorship primary, according to APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda.

Yilwatda clarified on Channels Television's Politics Today programme that Fubara "pulled out; he stepped down. It is personal to him." He confirmed that the governor had purchased the necessary forms, attended the screening, and passed it. The party was awaiting the primaries when Fubara made his decision to step down.

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He pulled out; he stepped down. It is personal to him. He bought the forms, came for screening, passed the screening, and we were waiting for the primaries before he opted to step down.

This statement addresses speculations that Fubara might have been disqualified, particularly after he declined to speak with journalists and appeared visibly downcast following the screening exercise. These observations had fueled rumors, especially since the screening panel had previously disqualified several associates of the governor in the Rivers State House of Assembly primaries while clearing aspirants perceived as loyal to Nyesom Wike.

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Wike is not in our party. He is in PDP.

However, Yilwatda firmly rejected any suggestion that Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, influenced Fubara's withdrawal. He emphasized that Wike is not a member of the APC and therefore cannot dictate the party's internal affairs, stating, "Wike is not in our party. He is in PDP."

Governor Fubara had announced his withdrawal from the governorship race on May 20, citing the decision as being in the interest of peace and unity in Rivers State. At the time, he expressed a full heart and a firm commitment to support whoever emerged as the party's candidate.

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I do so with a full heart and with a firm commitment to support whoever emerges as the candidate of our great party.