APC Screening: ‘Fubara Was Asked To Take A Bow And Go’

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Sunday appeared before the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship screening panel ahead of the party’s primary election.

Sources close to the governor who spoke with Vanguard dismissed claims that he was poorly received during the exercise.

There had been speculation that Fubara left the session dissatisfied, but insiders who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity said his early exit was in line with the screening process.

According to the sources, the governor’s interaction with the panel was brief and procedural.

They said Fubara was simply asked to “take a bow and go” after completing his appearance, a standard directive given to aspirants after screening.

The governor reportedly spent less than 20 minutes before the committee and declined to speak with journalists after the session.

The APC has so far screened two Rivers governorship aspirants Fubara and the member representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda.

APC Awaits Report

The screening committee is expected to submit its report, after which aspirants will know their status and decide whether to approach the Screening Appeal Committee.

Responding to enquiries, the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, said the committee would issue its report after completing its assignment.

He said, “I don’t know what you mean by screen. Anybody who appears before the screening committee, of course, is necessary as part of the process.

“After appearing before the screening committee, the screening committee will issue its report. As of now, the screening committee, having completed seeing everybody it is supposed to see, will now sit down and come out with its report. As of now, there is no report of the screening committee.”

Plateau Aspirant Praises Process

Meanwhile, a Plateau State governorship aspirant, Commander Yilchini Jan Bida (retd.), described the screening exercise as proof of the APC’s commitment to internal democracy.

Bida said, “The process went well. It shows that APC is a party that believes in internal democracy. They want to create an open field, a level playing ground for anybody who feels he has something to offer to his state to participate in the election.”

He expressed confidence in his chances at the primaries, citing what he described as strong grassroots support in Plateau State.