By CHARLES CHIJIOKE
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday commenced the screening of its incumbent governors ahead of the 2027 general election, but the exercise was marked by the notable absence of three state chief executives, raising fresh questions about internal cohesion as the ruling party plots its re-election strategy.
Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi, and Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara were not present when the screening committee, chaired by Nentawe Yilwatda, the APC national chairman, began its work in Abuja. Surajudeen Basiru, the party’s national secretary, served as secretary to the committee.
Speaking to reporters during the exercise, Yilwatda explained that the three governors had been excused owing to official engagements in their respective states. “When you have three governors that have not appeared, all of them have their excuses and their reasons why they’re not appearing,” he said. “And we know that they are chief executives of their states, and they have state issues to attend to.”
The committee chair stressed that the party was taking a flexible approach, acknowledging the demanding responsibilities attached to state governance. “So any governor who has state issues to attend to, the governor of Kwara says he has state issues to attend to, we excused him,” Yilwatda added. “Governor of Ebonyi state says he has state issues to attend to, we excused him. Governor of Rivers state says he has state issues to attend to, we excused him.”
He further described the absent governors as “field soldiers” and “field commanders,” insisting the screening would be rescheduled at their convenience. “Anytime you’re free, call the screening committee. We give you a room. You come at your will and your convenience, and we also screen you,” Yilwatda said.
In contrast, a host of other APC governors successfully went through the exercise, including Abba Yusuf of Kano, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Nasir Idris of Kebbi, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, and Hyacinth Alia of Benue. Also screened were Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Umar Bago of Niger, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Bassey Otu of Cross River, and Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto.
Political analysts watching the APC’s preparations for 2027 note that while the party has publicly downplayed the absences as routine, the development could signal underlying friction or independent political calculations by the three governors.
The APC, which currently controls a majority of Nigeria’s 36 states, is seeking to project unity ahead of what is expected to be a highly competitive election cycle. Any sign of disaffection among sitting governors – who often control significant party structures and resources in their states – could complicate the party’s primary processes and its overall campaign strategy.
The decision to excuse the absent governors rather than insist on a fixed timetable may also set a precedent that weakens the party’s internal discipline. Conversely, it could be read as a pragmatic recognition that forcing the issue might provoke open confrontation. With the 2027 election still roughly a year away, the APC leadership will likely continue to manage such exemptions carefully, balancing loyalty with the operational realities of state governance.
As the screening resumes on a rolling basis, all eyes will be on whether the three governors eventually present themselves – and what, if any, conditions they might seek in return for their cooperation.
The coming weeks will reveal whether this was merely a scheduling hiccup or the first crack in the party’s regional strongholds.
