Fubara
Olamilekan Abayomi
Governor Siminalayi Fubara announced on May 20, 2026, that he was withdrawing from the APC gubernatorial primaries for Rivers State after what he described as deep reflection and extensive consultations with his family, friends, and associates. He framed the decision as difficult but necessary, stressing that it came from a place of commitment to the party and to the state rather than from personal frustration. Fubara said he made the move with a full heart and with a firm pledge to support whoever emerges as the APC candidate.
The core of his explanation was that leadership requires sacrifice and that there are moments when personal ambition has to give way to the larger interest of the people. He argued that Rivers State is bigger than any individual and that at this moment, peace, stability, and unity should take priority over personal goals. By stepping down, he positioned himself as someone willing to put the state’s cohesion above his own political trajectory, at least in the immediate contest.
Fubara addressed his supporters directly, acknowledging the disappointment, anger, and pain many would feel. He thanked them for their time, resources, prayers, and loyalty, and insisted that their trust had not been wasted. He recognized that a lot had been invested in the campaign and that the withdrawal would feel like a setback, but he asked them to see it as part of a longer strategy for the state’s good rather than a betrayal of their efforts.
He also gave a reason for his silence in the weeks leading up to the announcement. Fubara said his quietness was deliberate and strategic, guided by what he saw as the higher interest of Rivers people. He borrowed from a local proverb to explain it: “not everything a hunter sees in the forest is spoken of in the marketplace.” For him, some truths are better kept quiet, not out of fear but out of wisdom and restraint, especially when peace and a greater purpose are at stake.
The governor hinted at the pressure he had faced without going into specifics. He said he had faced immense pressures and difficult choices, but that his love for Rivers State remained greater than anything else. That line suggests there were internal party dynamics, negotiations, or external factors that made continuing in the race untenable or counterproductive from his perspective. He left those details unsaid, choosing to focus on the outcome rather than the backroom conflict.
By withdrawing, Fubara signaled an intent to preserve his relationship with the APC structure in Rivers State. He pledged to support the eventual candidate, which reads as an attempt to avoid a split that could weaken the party ahead of the general election. In a state where political fractures have repeatedly shaped outcomes, his move can be read as an effort to prevent the kind of division that benefits the opposition.
The timing is also significant because Rivers APC has been dealing with internal tensions and contests over who controls the party machinery. Fubara’s withdrawal removes one source of friction and allows the party to consolidate around a single candidate without a protracted primary fight. It also protects him from being drawn into a contest that could damage his political capital if he lost, especially given the current balance of forces within the party.
Ultimately, the speech presents the withdrawal as a statesmanlike act rather than a retreat. Fubara cast himself as someone who chose restraint over confrontation, unity over division, and the long-term interest of Rivers State over short-term ambition. Whether that framing holds with his base will depend on how the party handles the primary process going forward and whether his supporters see their sacrifices reflected in the eventual candidate and campaign.
