The All Progressives Congress (APC) has disqualified Senator Ipalibo Banigo, who represents Rivers West, from participating in its senatorial primary scheduled for Monday.
Also barred from the exercise are former Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Tammy Wenike Danagogo; Ojukaye Flag Amachree; and businessman Tein Jack-Rich.
Conversely, the party cleared Senator Allwell Onyesoh (Rivers East), alongside Felix Obua, Barry Mwara and Osarosaka Ebenezer, to contest in the primaries.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the APC’s Rivers State Publicity Secretary, Chibuike Ikenga, urged aspirants and party members to take note of the screening outcome and comply accordingly.
The development follows the APC’s ongoing screening of aspirants ahead of its National Assembly primaries, part of early manoeuvrings toward the 2027 general elections. Party screenings are designed to determine eligibility based on internal guidelines, including loyalty, statutory requirements and compliance with nomination procedures.
In Rivers State, the exercise is unfolding amid longstanding intra-party tensions and realignments, with competing blocs seeking control of the party’s structure ahead of the polls. The disqualification of high-profile figures such as Banigo and Danagogo is likely to intensify political calculations within the party, particularly in the strategically important Rivers West senatorial district.
The APC has not publicly detailed the specific grounds for the disqualifications, but party officials insist the process was conducted in line with established rules.
