Fubara Pulls Out of Rivers APC Governorship Race, Pledges Support for Party Candidate

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has withdrawn from the All Progressives Congress [APC] governorship primary in the state, saying his decision is driven by the need to protect the peace and unity of Rivers.

In a statement personally signed on Wednesday, Fubara said the move followed extensive consultations with family, friends, and political associates. He pledged to back whoever emerges as the APC candidate.

“After deep reflection and extensive consultations, I have taken the difficult but necessary decision to withdraw from the APC governorship primaries,” Fubara said. “I do so with a full heart and with a firm commitment to support whoever emerges as the candidate of our great party.”

The governor framed the decision as an act of sacrifice rather than surrender.  
“Leadership demands sacrifice. There comes a time when personal ambition must yield to the greater good of the people. Rivers State is bigger than any individual, and at this critical moment, peace, stability, and unity must take precedence,” he stated.

Fubara thanked APC leaders and President Bola Tinubu for their support during the process, and urged party members to remain united. He also acknowledged supporters who may feel disappointed, saying his recent silence was “deliberate and strategic” and guided by the higher interest of the state.

“I stepped aside not out of weakness, fear, or surrender, but out of conviction and sacrifice so that Rivers State may move forward in peace and unity,” he added.

The governor said he would continue serving the people of Rivers until the end of his tenure.

The withdrawal comes amid ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections. APC chieftain and 2027 aspirant Tonye Cole had earlier announced his own exit from the race, citing party unity.

Fubara hinted at undisclosed pressures shaping the process, quoting a local proverb: “As our elders say, not everything a hunter sees in the forest is spoken of in the marketplace.”

He said some truths were best kept quietly “not out of fear, but out of wisdom and restraint for the sake of peace and a greater purpose.”