Second Term Uncertainty: Fubara, Kano Governor Face APC Ticket Battle

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his Kano State counterpart, Abba Yusuf, are facing growing uncertainty over their chances of securing second-term governorship tickets in the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections, Sunday PUNCH has learnt.

Although Fubara has formally defected to the APC and Yusuf is widely expected to join the ruling party following his resignation from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), party insiders say their return tickets are far from guaranteed.

Multiple APC sources disclosed that powerful party figures and entrenched political interests in both Rivers and Kano states are actively resisting any attempt to impose the governors as consensus candidates.

Intense Power Play Within APC

The development has sparked intense political manoeuvring within the APC in both states, with several governorship aspirants insisting on transparent and competitive primaries rather than automatic tickets for defectors.

Fubara officially left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC on December 9, a move widely interpreted as a strategic effort to secure his second-term ambition.

However, his defection has deepened tensions with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who has publicly stated that Fubara’s second-term bid is not assured—even within the APC.

While Wike has continued to champion President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, he has also reportedly mobilised political stakeholders across party lines in Rivers State to oppose Fubara’s return bid.

Kano Defection Raises New Questions

In Kano, Governor Abba Yusuf resigned from the NNPP alongside 21 state lawmakers, eight members of the House of Representatives, and 44 local government chairmen last Friday, following weeks of speculation about his imminent defection to the APC.

However, key figures—including Deputy Governor Aminu Abdulsalam and NNPP National Leader Rabiu Kwankwaso—remain in the party, a factor APC insiders say weakens Yusuf’s negotiating position.

No Guarantees Yet — APC Sources

APC officials who spoke on condition of anonymity revealed that while some defecting governors from the PDP had secured assurances for return tickets, no final decision had been reached regarding Fubara and Yusuf.

A member of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) cited the “peculiar political dynamics” in Rivers and Kano as major obstacles.

“For most PDP governors who defected, one of the major negotiations—approved by the President—was the guarantee of return tickets,” the official said.
“But Rivers and Kano are complicated. As we speak, no concrete agreement has been reached on Governors Fubara and Yusuf.”

Another senior party source noted that although the APC Governors’ Forum wields significant influence over party decisions, it remains divided over the two states.

“They’ve concluded on return tickets for some governors, but Rivers is divided, and nothing serious has been decided on Kano,” the official said.

He added that Yusuf’s inability to bring Kwankwaso into the APC counts against him, while competing ambitions within the party further complicate matters.

“Former APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje has a preferred candidate, Nasiru Gawuna, while Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin is also eyeing the seat. These issues must be resolved first.”

Rivers, Kano Aspirants Reject Automatic Tickets

In Rivers State, the APC’s 2023 governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, firmly rejected calls to step down for Fubara, insisting on open primaries.

Cole argued that Fubara had not aligned with the dominant faction of the APC in the state, which he said remains under the influence of Wike.

“Everybody knows Tony Okocha’s faction controls the structure, and that faction answers to Wike,” Cole said.
“If you are asking me to step down, on what basis?”

Similarly, the Kano State APC ruled out any automatic ticket for Governor Yusuf.

The party’s Publicity Secretary, Ahmed Aruwa, said all aspirants—regardless of status—must contest the party’s primaries.

“There is no provision for automatic tickets in the APC. Every aspirant, including sitting governors who defect to the party, must participate in the governorship primaries,” he stated.