The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, has said Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara voluntarily withdrew from the party’s governorship primary and was not forced out by the APC.

Yilwatda made the clarification on Monday during an appearance on Politics Today on Channels Television.

According to him, Fubara completed all required processes, including purchasing nomination forms and passing the party’s screening exercise before later deciding to step down from the race.

“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,” Yilwatda said.

INEC Appeals Court Ruling On Submission Of Membership Register

The APC chairman also dismissed claims that Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, influenced the outcome of the Rivers APC governorship process or prevented Fubara from securing the ticket.

“Wike is not in our party. He is in PDP,” Yilwatda stated.

The comments come amid intense political tensions and realignments in Rivers State ahead of the 2027 elections.

Why Some Aspirants Were Disqualified

Yilwatda further explained that APC rules require aspirants seeking elective positions to be financially active members of the party.

According to him, failure to provide evidence of payment of party dues automatically disqualifies an aspirant.

“Our party guidelines state that before you are qualified to contest for any position, you must be a financial member of the party,” he said.

“If somebody has not paid his dues and has no proof of being a financial member, he stands disqualified.”

Kingsley Chinda’s Eligibility

Addressing concerns about the emergence of House of Representatives member Kingsley Chinda as the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State, Yilwatda said the lawmaker properly defected to the party and became eligible once registered.

“He defected. Our party has no waiver system,” he explained.

“Even if you decamp to our party today, you can enjoy equal rights with every other member once you are properly registered.”

The APC chairman maintained that the Rivers primary process followed party rules and due process throughout.