The All Progressives Congress (APC) has disqualified several aspirants reportedly loyal to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara from contesting the party’s House of Assembly primaries, while clearing candidates believed to be aligned with the political structure of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The outcome of the screening exercise has further highlighted the dominance of Wike’s camp within the Rivers State chapter of the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The screening committee, constituted by the APC National Working Committee, released its report on Sunday after conducting the exercise on May 9 and 10 at the party’s state secretariat along the Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway.
The report, jointly signed by committee chairman Muraina Ajibola, secretary Ishaku Tanko Yamawo, and members Aisha Abdullahi Adamu and Danjuma Samuel, stated that the exercise was carried out in line with the Nigerian Constitution, APC guidelines and relevant electoral laws.
According to the committee, 98 aspirants participated in the screening, with only 33 cleared to contest the party’s primaries, while 65 others were disqualified.
Among those cleared were aspirants reportedly linked to Wike’s political camp, including Maol Dumle, Major Jack, Nwabochi Frankline, Tonye Smart Adoki, Hope Ugwumadu, Kenneth Minimah, Arnold Davids and Gerald Oforji.
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However, several aspirants believed to be loyal to Governor Fubara were disqualified, including Victor Oko Jumbo, Fubara Goodluck Ohaka, Prince Emukuighro Fubara, Tonye Briggs Oniyide, Reuben Vincent Obu, Karibi Bobmanuel and Tamunobaraiba George.
The committee cited various reasons for the disqualifications, including submission of unsworn affidavits, failure to provide voter cards and party membership slips, inconsistencies in documentation, conflicting dates of birth and irregularities involving nominators.
It also revealed that petitions were received from party members across the 23 local government areas of the state challenging the eligibility of some aspirants.
According to the committee, some nominations were allegedly endorsed by party members who were not financially up to date as required under Article 9.3 of the APC Constitution.
The report further disclosed that an aspirant for the Asari-Toru 1 constituency, Tonye Garrick Tom-George, allegedly attempted to bribe members of the screening panel by presenting an envelope containing money alongside his passport photograph.
The committee said the incident was reported to the police.
It also stated that the screening exercise was largely peaceful except for an altercation involving one of the disqualified aspirants, Victor Oko Jumbo, who allegedly attempted to enter the venue with security aides in violation of the screening guidelines.
“The security agents successfully put the situation under control and the screening continued smoothly,” the committee stated.
