Rivers: Fubara’s Withdrawal Was Voluntary, Wike Not to Blame — Yilwatda

APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda has clarified that Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara voluntarily withdrew from the party’s governorship primaries.

In an interview on Channels Television’s *Politics Today*, Yilwatda explained that Fubara was neither disqualified nor forced out of the race.

He said that Fubara had purchased the party’s nomination forms, appeared before the screening committee, and cleared the screening before choosing to step down before the primaries. The governor’s withdrawal, Yilwatda added, was a personal decision.

“He pulled out; he stepped down. It is personal to him. He bought the forms, came for screening, passed the screening, and we were waiting for the primaries before he opted to step down,” Yilwatda stated.

Yilwatda also refuted claims that Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike had influenced the process or played any role in Fubara’s withdrawal.

He emphasized that the former Rivers governor was not a member of the ruling party.

“Wike is not in our party. He is in the PDP,” he said.