Drama erupted on Sunday as Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, angrily stormed out of the screening hall of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja.
Others who were screened successfully on Saturday included other incumbent governors, but Fubara and his Ebonyi State counterpart, Governor Francis Nwifuru, were conspicuously absent.
When asked why Fubara was absent during the screening, the Chairman of the Committee and APC Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda said that state governors with official engagements were excused.
The issue is three governors have not come,” he said. I said, “You don’t pick out one person when three governors have not shown up. They all have their reasons for not showing up and we know that they are chief executives of their states with state responsibilities.
“So, any governor that has state issues to attend to, whether the governor of Kwara State, Ebonyi State, Rivers State, we excuse them.
However, Fubara eventually arrived at the Plateau Governor’s Lodge, where the exercise was holding at about 3pm on Sunday but walked out of the screening room after 20 minutes and his demeanor visibly changed.
Daily Trust reported that Fubara, who was visibly angry from his countenance, refused to grant interviews to journalists who had waited hours for his arrival.
Asked by reporters on how the exercise went, an angry looking Fubara said, “No comment.”
The incident may also be seen as a setback to Fubara’s bid for re-election. The Governor’s next move is uncertain.
Fubara has been in a running battle with his estranged political godfather cum Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
Wike is speculated to have resolved to replace Fubara with the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Kingsley Chinda.
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