The All Progressives Congress (APC) has released a list of House of Representatives aspirants disqualified from participating in its forthcoming National Assembly primaries, with Rivers State emerging as one of the hardest hit.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the party said the affected aspirants were deemed “not cleared” following its screening exercise conducted across several states ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While the disqualifications cut across Ondo, Bauchi, Ebonyi and Kogi states, Rivers recorded the highest number of affected aspirants, raising concerns about internal party dynamics in the oil-rich state.
Rivers dominates disqualification list
In Rivers State, four aspirants were barred from contesting:
Air Commodore John Azubuike Opara (rtd) (Port Harcourt Federal Constituency)
Hon. Anderson Allison Igbiki (Okrika/Ogu-Bolo Federal Constituency)
Awaji Imombek D. Abirite (Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency)
Hon. Boma Goodhead (Asari-Toru/Akuku-Toru Federal Constituency)
The development positions Rivers as a focal point in the party’s screening outcome, with political observers likely to scrutinise its implications for the APC’s structure and cohesion in the state.
In Ondo State, multiple aspirants across constituencies were disqualified, including Hon. Adefisoye Tajudeen, Olusegun Victor Ategbole and others.
Bauchi and Ebonyi recorded single disqualifications, while Kogi also had one aspirant marked “not cleared.”
The party, however, did not provide specific reasons for the disqualifications, stating only that the exercise followed “established procedures and guidelines.”
“The screening exercise was conducted by the Party’s Screening Committees in line with established procedures,” the statement noted.
Elsewhere, the APC recorded progress and setbacks in its primary processes. In Katsina State, Jamila Mani emerged winner of the primary for Mani/Bindawa Federal Constituency.
However, in Adamawa State, the exercise was disrupted in several areas, including Girei, Yola North and Yola South, where party members reportedly waited for hours due to the absence of officials.
The screening outcome marks a critical stage in the APC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the Rivers situation likely to shape political alignments and contestations within the party in the coming months.
