The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced its final list of aspirants cleared to contest in the party’s 2027 primary elections. Released on Thursday, the list features 33 approved candidates, while 65 have been disqualified. Notably, all aspirants affiliated with Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s faction have been disqualified, with all 32 candidates linked to his camp failing to pass the screening process. In contrast, incumbent members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who are allied with former Governor Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, have been among those approved.
Chibike Ikenga, the State APC Publicity Secretary, has urged party members who purchased House of Assembly Expression of Interest and Nomination forms to check their status on the notice board at the party’s state secretariat, located at No 268B Aba Road, Port Harcourt. He also mentioned that any aspirant wishing to contest the outcome must submit an appeal to the party secretariat. The appeal session is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 12, at the same venue. The accompanying report from the screening committee outlined the reasons for disqualification, which included violations such as nominations by individuals not current with party dues, breaches of Article 9.3 of the APC Constitution, attempts to bribe committee members, submission of unsworn affidavits, and failure to present voter cards or party membership certificates. Additional issues noted were inconsistent birth dates, unconfirmed payment of nominators’ dues, irregularities in nominators’ membership numbers, mismatched names on documents, insufficient nominators (fewer than the required three per ward), and invalid affidavits that omitted essential information regarding NECO certificates.
The results of this screening process are likely to significantly impact intra-party dynamics as the 2027 elections approach. By disqualifying the entire slate aligned with Fubara, the APC’s Rivers State leadership has effectively paved the way for candidates loyal to the Wike faction. Observers suggest that these disqualifications may heighten factional tensions within the ruling party, potentially affecting candidate selection for both legislative and executive positions. Stakeholders awaiting the appeal results are expected to closely monitor the May 12 hearing, as any changes could alter the final candidate list. Additionally, national party officials will scrutinize the APC’s management of the screening process to ensure that the primaries proceed without further controversy. The final list of cleared aspirants, along with the detailed reasons for disqualifications, reflects the APC’s commitment to enforcing internal compliance while also highlighting the deep political divisions that continue to define Rivers State politics. Ultimately, the upcoming appeals will determine whether the current balance of power within the party remains intact or shifts in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.
Comments are closed for this story.