Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, on Sunday appeared before the screening panel of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the party’s governorship primary election, amid speculation over the outcome of the exercise.
Sources close to the governor dismissed reports suggesting that Fubara was unhappy with the process or received a cold reception during the screening.
According to insiders who spoke anonymously, the governor’s appearance before the panel was brief and followed the normal procedure adopted for aspirants.
One source said, “There was nothing unusual about the session. After his interaction with the panel, he was simply asked to take a bow and go, which is a standard practice during the exercise.”
Another source added that the Rivers governor spent less than 20 minutes before the committee and quietly left the venue without addressing journalists.
The APC has so far screened two governorship aspirants from Rivers State, including Fubara and Kingsley Chinda.
Meanwhile, the party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, said the screening committee would release its report after concluding its assignment.
Speaking on the process, Basiru 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.”
He added, “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.”
