The internal crisis rocking the Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress deepened on Monday after the party’s screening committee disqualified dozens of aspirants believed to be loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, while clearing candidates aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, ahead of the 2027 State House of Assembly primaries.
The development has heightened political tension within the ruling party, with stakeholders warning that the outcome of the screening exercise could worsen divisions ahead of the general elections.
A report of the screening committee, obtained on Monday, showed that former factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Victor Oko Jumbo, and more than 60 other aspirants were screened out of the exercise conducted at the APC secretariat in Port Harcourt over the weekend.
The committee, headed by Rt. Hon. Muraina Ajibola, said the affected aspirants failed to meet requirements stipulated in the party’s constitution and screening guidelines.
However, 33 aspirants, many of them sitting lawmakers believed to be loyal to Wike, were cleared to contest the party primaries.
Among those cleared were Dumle Maol, Major Jack, Enemi Alabo George, Tonye Smart Adoki, Kenneth Minimah, Justina Okorji, Onyema Nwankwo and several other serving members of the Rivers Assembly.
Prominent among those disqualified were former Obio/Akpor Local Government Chairman, Chijioke Ihunwo, and other figures identified with Fubara’s political camp.
The committee said the disqualifications were based on issues including irregular membership records, failure to provide valid voter cards, inconsistencies in submitted documents, unsworn affidavits and failure to meet nomination requirements.
The panel also alleged that one aspirant attempted to bribe members of the committee during the screening exercise.
According to the report, the aspirant allegedly handed over an envelope containing money alongside his passport photograph in what the committee described as an attempt to improperly influence the process. The incident was reportedly referred to the police.
The committee further disclosed that the screening exercise was briefly disrupted following a disagreement involving Oko Jumbo and security operatives after he allegedly attempted to enter the venue with security aides.
A total of 98 aspirants reportedly purchased nomination forms and participated in the screening exercise.
The outcome has fuelled allegations of political bias within the party, especially amid the lingering supremacy battle between supporters of Fubara and Wike over control of the APC structure in Rivers State.
A source within Fubara’s camp, who spoke on condition of anonymity, warned that the development could weaken the APC’s electoral chances in the state if not urgently addressed.
The source said sidelining influential grassroots mobilisers loyal to the governor could trigger internal revolt and strengthen opposition parties ahead of the 2027 polls.
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