The All Progressives Congress (APC) screening exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections recorded the absence of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, even as 14 governors seeking re-election and other positions were assessed.
President Bola Tinubu’s sole challenger, Stanley Osifo, also appeared for screening.
Report stated that APC began selling expression of interest and nomination forms on April 28, closing the exercise at midnight on May 6. Screening of sitting governors started on May 8 and was expected to end on May 10 (today). The party adopted both consensus and direct primaries in line with the Electoral Act 2025.
Election timetable
The APC primaries are scheduled in phases: House of Representatives on May 15, Senate on May 18, State Houses of Assembly on May 20, governorship on May 21, and presidential primary on May 23. Appeal committees will follow each stage to handle disputes.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027. Party primaries and dispute resolution are expected between April 23 and May 30, 2026. Campaigns begin August 19, 2026, for presidential and National Assembly elections, and September 9, 2026, for governorship and State Assembly polls.
Screening exercise
The APC screening committee for governors is chaired by National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, with National Secretary Surajudeen Basiru as secretary.
Governors screened include Abba Yusuf (Kano), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Nasir Idris (Kebbi), Caleb Muftwang (Plateau), Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Umar Bago (Niger), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Bassey Otu (Cross River), and Ahmed Aliyu (Sokoto), among others.
A party official, speaking anonymously, said “So far, we have screened over 14 governors and the exercise is still ongoing,”
Akwa Ibom Governor, Eno, after his screening, described the process as smooth, saying:
“Perfect, and I think it’s a normal procedure. I am satisfied. Again, I thank the National Working Committee, the chairman, and all members of the National Working Committee. It brings synergy between the sitting governors and the National Working Committee, and it shows growth. There’s no sitting governor who is not in sync with the National Working Committee.
“This exercise consolidates that. It makes you meet all of them, and it shows that there is a flow between us as progressives. So I’m satisfied.
“In my state or in the nation? In the nation, you’ve seen the work that the President is doing, and we are all part of it. We’re working from our various states. Of course, it builds up from the sub-national to the national.”
He added “And so there is no progressive governor today whose work you cannot verify on the ground. And then at the national level, the President has given us, as governors, lots of support. Things are difficult, we must admit, but we also must admit that things are improving from where this President took over. And there is a pathway. You can see the stabilisation of the dollar.
“You can see that, apart from the Iran-American war, which is also now affecting some of the achievements, and this is not only in Nigeria anyway, you can truly say that there is progress. 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 also pledged to build on his achievements if re-elected.
Aspirants react, Former Foreign Affairs Minister and Bauchi governorship aspirant, Yusuf Tuggar, said consensus was unlikely in his state due to rising aspirants.
He said , “Well, to be honest, it is unlikely that there is going to be a consensus in Bauchi State. I don’t think there will be agreement among the aspirants. Initially, there were five aspirants, and then all of a sudden, yesterday (Friday), we saw a flurry of activities and a deluge of forms being procured. So, this happened a day before the screening, and it makes you wonder why or how. But people are free to exercise their freedom to contest, so they have contested.”
He urged the APC to ensure fairness, “However, it is important for the APC to be mindful of this and to sift through those who are seriously committed and dedicated to the party and are sincere in their intention to contest, and those who perhaps may just join the race so that they can later withdraw for one preferred candidate, thereby creating a semblance of consensus. It is also important that any fraudulent or untoward practice is not entertained by the APC.”
He added that the political environment has changed, noting stronger electoral rules and advocating grassroots mobilisation.
Other aspirants, including Abdul Fatai Yahya (Kwara) and Stanley Osifo (presidential aspirant), said the screening was rigorous but fair and expressed confidence
However, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara was absent from the exercise.
Fubara, locked in a political struggle with his predecessor and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, reportedly obtained nomination forms through a proxy, allegedly against Wike’s opposition.
By the end of the screening, he had not appeared. Committee Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda explained:
“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. All of them have their reasons for not appearing, and we know they are chief executives of their states with state responsibilities.
“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. Anytime they are free, within the stipulated time, the screening committee will be available and we will provide a slot for them.”
Uncertainty in Rivers APC race , Reports indicate that some Rivers stakeholders, including Awaj-Inombek Abiante and Dr Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja, purchased nomination forms for Fubara. However, it remains unclear if he received them.
Meanwhile, former Commissioner Das George-Kelly and Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda are also said to have obtained governorship forms in the state.
Gogo-Jaja alleged that “Those who are disrespecting Mr President, are they not those who were asked to resign if they have political ambition and they did not resign?
“As we speak, O.K. Chinda is the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, yet he bought a governorship nomination form in the APC, in our party.
“Maybe if you have been hearing it as a rumour, quote me. I saw his name among those who bought the governorship form.
“I have access to the file because I was among those who went to submit it.”
