Coalition of 25 Groups Vows to Refund N50 Million Nomination Fee for Governor Fubara

A coalition of no fewer than 25 civil society and political groups has pledged to refund the N50 million nomination and expression of interest fee paid on behalf of Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his second-term bid under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The nomination forms were initially procured for the governor by party elders and stakeholders who acted ahead of the groups’ planned purchase. Despite this, the coalition, operating under the umbrella of the Coalition of Greater Nigeria Groups (GNG), said it remains committed to contributing to what it described as a historic process by reimbursing the full amount to the governor.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Saturday, the coalition’s spokesman, Comrade Jinadu Suleiman, explained that delegations from various affiliated groups had already arrived in the capital for a glamorous rally scheduled for May 2 to purchase the forms themselves. However, they were preempted by APC stakeholders who secured the forms a day earlier.

“Delegation of executives of our various groups arrived in 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,” Suleiman said. “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.”

A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, who had earlier spoken on behalf of the stakeholders who purchased the forms, described the collective effort as being driven by the broader interest of Rivers State. He noted that the initiative underscores the level of grassroots and national backing the governor currently enjoys.

The coalition includes pro-democracy advocates, human rights activists, the Nigeria Young Professionals Group, APC support groups, and other civil organisations from both Rivers State and across the nation. The groups argued that the governor’s performance record, despite facing political distractions and intimidations, is the primary selling point for his re-election.

According to the coalition, Fubara’s achievements in less than three years surpass what many governors are doing in other states. They cited prompt payment of salaries and pensions, ongoing infrastructure development including the Trans-Kalabari Road and Andoni access routes, housing initiatives, security interventions, and partnerships aimed at boosting small and medium-scale enterprises as evidence of the administration’s commitment.

“If a leader can deliver this level of development within a limited time and under difficult circumstances, then he deserves continuity,” the coalition stated. They expressed strong confidence that the governor would secure re-election convincingly at the polls, regardless of the political platform.

The planned refund, which coalition members described as symbolic of their endorsement, is expected to be made directly to the governor in the coming days. The groups said the gesture reflects confidence in Fubara’s leadership and a desire for continuity, expressing optimism that Rivers State will witness even greater progress under his second term.