Governor Siminalayi Fubara has formally entered the 2027 governorship race in Rivers State after lodging his nomination documents with the All Progressives Congress (APC), signalling a decisive political realignment ahead of the polls.
The filing confirms the governor’s intention to pursue another term under a different political banner, setting up a likely confrontation with interests linked to his former political benefactor, Nyesom Wike.
Sources within the party disclosed that a group of APC figures from Rivers had earlier secured the forms at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja before handing them over to the governor, who has now completed the submission process.
He is scheduled to face the party’s screening panel beginning May 8, as part of the process to clear aspirants for the primary election.
Those involved in obtaining the forms described their action as a bottom-up mobilisation effort, insisting it reflects public demand for policy continuity and administrative stability in the state.
The development adds another layer to the widening political divide between Fubara and Wike. Once aligned within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), both men now operate from opposing camps following a breakdown in their relationship after the 2023 election.
Wike is still considered a dominant force within the PDP structure in Rivers and is expected to rally support behind a rival contender.
Analysts interpret Fubara’s move as a calculated bid to reinforce his political standing while tapping into broader alliances ahead of the election cycle.
With the screening exercise imminent, attention is shifting to whether the governor secures clearance and how the unfolding contest could reshape political dynamics in Rivers State as the 2027 race gathers momentum.
