2027: Fubara, loyalists risk political oblivion after primary election losses

According to a report by Daily Post on Thursday, May 28, 2026, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and many of his loyalists have emerged among the major losers in the recently concluded primary elections across political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections

The report stated that Fubara’s political camp suffered heavy setbacks as the governor himself could not secure a path toward a second term, while several of his supporters were also shut out of the political process within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Fubara was said to have withdrawn from the governorship race before the primary election after realizing that his chances of clinching the APC ticket were slim. In addition, many politicians believed to be aligned with him were reportedly disqualified from contesting various elective positions under the party platform.

Meanwhile, loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, reportedly dominated the APC primaries in Rivers State, securing key positions and tightening their grip on the party structure.

Across the country, several APC governors seeking second terms successfully secured automatic tickets from the party. Among them are Uba Sani of Kaduna State, Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Dikko Radda of Katsina State, Nasir Idris of Kebbi State, Umar Namadi of Jigawa State, Abba Yusuf of Kano State, and Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State.

Others include Umar Bago of Niger State, Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, Agbu Kefas of Taraba State, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, and Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State.

Daily Post recalled that Fubara had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in what many observers considered an attempt to secure political stability and strengthen his future within the ruling party. However, the move did not eventually protect him from losing political influence.

Commenting on the development, Wike revealed that there had been a prior agreement that Fubara would not seek another term in office.

I’m not surprised that the governor withdrew. In the first place, he ought not to have collected the form because the agreement was reached that impeachment should be dropped while he should also not talk about second tenure,” Wike said.

Reacting to the situation, activist Liborous Oshoma Idam argued that many APC governors were rewarded with automatic tickets while Fubara was unfairly singled out despite publicly supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“What makes the situation even more humiliating is that several governors within the All Progressives Congress were rewarded with automatic tickets, while Fubara was only scapegoated and denied the same privilege despite publicly chanting ‘On your mandate’ in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Idam said.

The activist further lamented the economic condition of the country, insisting that Nigerians should focus more on the nation’s hardships rather than politicians securing second-term tickets.

According to Idam, Fubara risks gradually fading into political irrelevance because he failed to establish projects or programmes that would leave a lasting impact on the people of Rivers State.

Idam also maintained that the governor’s biggest concern after leaving office might not be politics alone, but whether political opponents could use anti-graft agencies against him.

However, former Secretary General of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Anthony Sani, expressed optimism that Fubara could still revive his political career in the future.