No fewer than 25 groups under the Coalition of Greater Nigeria Groups, GNG, have volunteered to refund the fifty million naira fee for the purchase of nomination and expression of interest forms for Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The nomination and expression of interest forms were earlier procured for Governor Fubara, who is seeking a second tenure under the APC, by some elders and stakeholders of the party.
Addressing newsmen on Friday, a Member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, said the move was a collective effort of Rivers Stakeholders and it was done in the overall interest of the state. “This is the voice of the people speaking through their leaders. He cannot turn his back on them,” Abiante said.
The Coalition said it had fixed May 2 to move in a glamorous rally to the APC point of purchase to get the forms for Fubara, but the APC stakeholders beat them to it by picking the form earlier. “Delegation of executives of our various groups have arrived Abuja ahead of the purchase of the nomination forms for His Excellency, Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Saturday, but then, the Rivers Stakeholders beat us to it by picking the form yesterday,” the Coalition stated.
Despite missing the initial purchase, the groups insisted they would proceed with a refund to the Governor. “In spite of that, we shall go ahead and make a refund to the Governor. We must be part of this great history. Let the Governor be aware that Nigerians, both home and abroad love and support him, not only in Rivers,” Comrade Jinadu Suleiman, the Spokesman of the Coalition said Saturday morning while addressing newsmen in Abuja.
The Coalition comprises pro-democracy and good governance groups, Human Rights Activists, Nigeria Young Professionals Group, APC Support Groups and other Civil Groups, both in Rivers and at the national level. The groups said the gesture was to encourage the Governor to continue with his good works, knowing that Nigerians are strongly behind him, both home and abroad.
Abiante, who represents Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency, explained that elders and political leaders across Rivers State jointly took the decision in what they described as the overriding interest of the people. He dismissed suggestions of impropriety, saying the move aligns with established political practices where stakeholders support preferred candidates.
“This is not new. Even at the national level, stakeholders have, in the past, procured nomination forms for candidates. It reflects the collective will of the people. It is not about how deep your pocket is; it is about what the people feel. Rivers people are clearly asking for continuity,” he said.
He stressed that the gesture signals widespread confidence in Governor Fubara’s leadership and was driven by public sentiment rather than financial considerations. “He did not send us. The funds for the forms were raised from ordinary citizens, not from the governor or any political financier,” Abiante noted.
The lawmaker cited the governor’s performance despite distractions as the APC’s selling point in Rivers, pointing to infrastructure development, improved access to underserved communities, and expanding economic opportunities, particularly in riverine areas. “In places like Andoni, access was once a major challenge. Within months, that changed. Communities that were cut off are now connected and contributing to the blue economy,” he said.
He also mentioned the rehabilitation of key government facilities, including the State Secretariat, alongside broader improvements in citizens’ welfare as evidence of focused governance.
The groups maintained that Governor Fubara neither requested nor influenced the procurement of the forms, describing the action as entirely voluntary and a “people-powered” movement rooted in democratic culture.
