Few hours after Rivers State Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara pulled out of the 2027 governorship race, another contender with the surname Fubara has joined the contest on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The new candidate, Blessing Fubara Snr., has collected the party’s nomination and expression of interest forms for the 2027 Rivers governorship election.
Blessing Fubara obtained the forms at the NDC national headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday. The move has triggered fresh debate in Rivers political circles right after the governor’s abrupt exit from the race.
Both Blessing Fubara and Governor Siminalayi Fubara hail from Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area. However, there has been no official confirmation on whether the two are related.
Rivers State NDC Chairman Hon. Success Jack confirmed that Blessing Fubara is among the party’s governorship aspirants. He added that he could not confirm any family link to the governor.
“Yes, he picked up his expression of interest form yesterday in Abuja, and we are ready and still preparing to win the governorship election and every other election in Rivers State in 2027,” Jack said.
Reports say Blessing Fubara left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the NDC about two weeks ago.
He was received in Abuja during his defection by the party’s national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, and other stakeholders.
At the event, he called the NDC “a moving train” and said his decision was based on what is best for the people of Rivers State.
He also said “the soul of Rivers State is at stake” as political alignments ahead of 2027 continue to shift.
NDC supporters view his entry as a sign of a growing movement that could alter the state’s opposition landscape. Critics, however, say the real test will be whether the party can build a strong statewide structure capable of competing with bigger, more established parties in 2027.
