“Not Out of Fear” — Fubara Explains Sudden Exit From Rivers Governorship Primaries

Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State, has announced his withdrawal from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a formal statement released on Wednesday, the governor said his decision followed “deep reflection” and wide consultations with family, political associates and supporters.

Fubara described the move as a sacrifice made in the interest of peace, unity and stability in Rivers State, insisting that the state’s collective interest must come before personal ambition. “Leadership is ultimately about sacrifice. There comes a time when personal ambition must yield to the greater good of the people,” he stated.

The governor also pledged support for whoever emerges as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming governorship election. While acknowledging the disappointment among his supporters, Fubara said his silence in recent weeks had been “deliberate and strategic,” adding that he had faced “immense pressures and difficult choices.”

“As our elders say, not everything a hunter sees in the forest is spoken of in the marketplace,” the statement read, in what observers may interpret as a veiled reference to ongoing political tensions within the state.

Fubara thanked the APC leadership and Bola Ahmed Tinubu for their support and encouragement throughout the political process. He, however, maintained that his withdrawal should not be seen as an act of weakness or surrender.

“Let it be clearly understood that 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 said.

The development is expected to reshape the political landscape in Rivers State, where tensions and alignments ahead of the 2027 elections have continued to generate national attention.