The crisis within the Rivers State chapter of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) escalated on Monday after the party cleared aspirants loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, while disqualifying candidates believed to be aligned with Governor Siminalayi Fubara ahead of the 2027 State House of Assembly primaries.
The party released the list of aspirants screened for the exercise, approving 33 candidates to participate while disqualifying 65 others.
A breakdown of the screening outcome showed that all 32 aspirants reportedly linked to Governor Fubara’s political camp were barred from contesting in the primaries.
Meanwhile, serving members of the Rivers State House of Assembly believed to be loyal to Wike were cleared by the screening committee.
The latest development is expected to deepen the political rift between supporters of the governor and loyalists of the former Rivers State governor, further intensifying tensions within the state’s political landscape.
In a statement issued by the Rivers APC Publicity Secretary, Chibike Ikenga, aspirants who purchased nomination and expression of interest forms for the House of Assembly election were directed to check their screening status at the party secretariat located along Aba Road in Port Harcourt.
Ikenga also stated that aggrieved aspirants dissatisfied with the screening outcome could file appeals through the party secretariat.
According to him, the appeal hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, by 10:00 a.m.
The screening committee cited several reasons for the disqualification of affected aspirants, accusing some of submitting incomplete or inconsistent documentation during the exercise.
Among the reasons listed were nominations by individuals who were not financially up-to-date members of the party, contrary to Article 9.3 of the APC Constitution, as well as allegations of inducement and attempted bribery of committee members.
Other grounds for disqualification included submission of unsworn affidavits, failure to present voter cards, absence of party membership slips or cards, conflicting dates of birth, inability to confirm payment of membership dues by nominators, irregular membership numbers, inconsistencies in submitted names, and insufficient nominations from wards.
The committee also cited invalid affidavits that allegedly failed to disclose relevant details concerning NECO certificates submitted by some aspirants.
