All Progressives Congress (APC) has reportedly disqualified several aspirants linked to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara from participating in the party’s State House of Assembly primaries.
The development comes amid the prolonged political crisis in Rivers State, where tensions between factions loyal to Fubara and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike continue to shape the state’s political landscape ahead of 2027.
The lead reason for the mass disqualification was anchored on Article 9.3 of the Party Constitution, which restricts the right to vote or be voted for to “only fully registered and financially up-to-date members”.
However, sources within the party indicate that many of those disqualified are associates of Governor Fubara who recently sought a platform in the APC amidst the ongoing crisis in the state with his predecessor and Minister of the Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Mr Nyesom Wike, who had sort to control the state machinery.
The committee strictly applied the financial membership rule, contending that their nominations were endorsed by persons who failed to discharge their financial obligations to the party.
Among those listed as “Not Cleared” are Orubibanugha Timothy, Chime Eguma Ezebulike, Onyema Loveday Hechiaru, and Tonye Briggs Oniyide.
The screening exercise, held at the APC State Secretariat in Port Harcourt, was not without drama. The committee, chaired by Rt. Hon. Muraina Ajibola, reported an “incident of bribery” involving Mr. Tonye Garrick Tom-George, an aspirant for the Asari Toru 1 seat.
According to the report, Tom-George allegedly approached the committee and handed over an envelope containing money alongside his passport photograph in an “apparent attempt to improperly influence the screening process”.
The matter was promptly reported to the police. Consequently, Tom-George was disqualified on the grounds of “inducement and attempted bribery of committee members”.
The committee also noted a breach of decorum by Mr. Victor Oko Jumbo, who insisted on entering the screening venue with a retinue of security aides. This led to a confrontation with police officers on duty before security agents eventually brought the situation under control.
Beyond the political loyalties and bribery allegations, the committee cited several other technical grounds for the disqualification of the 65 aspirants: among them are: “Submission of unsworn affidavits; failure to present valid voters cards or party membership slips; conflicting dates of birth; invalid affidavits that failed to disclose material particulars relating to NECO certificates; and insufficient nominators, with some aspirants failing to secure the required three nominators per ward.”
Only 33 aspirants who successfully navigated the rigorous exercise were reportedly loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Wike. Among those cleared to participate in the upcoming primaries include Maol Dumle, Major M. Jack, Nwabochi Frankline, Enemi Alabo George, and Tonye Smart Adoki.
The committee, which included Hon. Ishaku Tanko Yamawo as Secretary and Samuel Danjuma as a member, concluded that the disqualifications were necessary to uphold the “democratic ideals and progressive principles of the Party”.
However, the mass purge of aspirants linked to the Fubara camp is expected to trigger fresh legal battles and further inflame the volatile political atmosphere in Rivers State as the APC prepares for the House of Assembly elections.
