Confusion has engulfed the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State following conflicting claims over the authenticity of the screening report for House of Assembly aspirants ahead of the party’s primaries.
The controversy erupted after reports indicated that 65 out of the 98 aspirants who purchased nomination forms were disqualified by the screening committee. The exercise, conducted last weekend, was said to have largely affected loyalists of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, while allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, were reportedly cleared.
The purported report, allegedly signed by the screening committee chairman, Muraina Ajibola, and three other members, was circulated by the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Chubike Ikenga, fueling widespread reactions within political circles.
However, in a dramatic twist, the Secretary of the Screening Committee, Tanko Yamowa, disowned the document, describing it as “false and unauthorized.” Yamowa insisted that the screening exercise had only just been concluded and that no official list of cleared or disqualified aspirants had been released.
“The said publication is false, unauthorized, and does not emanate from the appropriate party authorities,” he declared. Yamowa added that no official results had been released by party officials.
According to him, the APC follows established procedures for releasing screening outcomes. Any formal announcements about aspirants’ status would come through proper party channels, he noted.
He cautioned party faithful and the public against relying on the circulating document, stressing that the APC would communicate its official position through established channels at the appropriate time. According to him, the premature publication was the handiwork of mischief-makers seeking to sow discord and heighten tension within the party.
But Ikenga dismissed Yamowa’s position, maintaining that the report in circulation was authentic. He urged aggrieved aspirants to take advantage of the party’s appeal process, noting that those dissatisfied with their status could formally challenge their disqualification through the designated appeal committee.
The conflicting positions have deepened uncertainty among aspirants and party stakeholders, with many left unsure about their standing in the race. The development underscores growing internal divisions within the APC in Rivers State, as competing interests jostle for control ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The dispute is widely seen as an extension of the lingering political rift between Fubara and his predecessor, Wike, whose influence continues to shape the state’s political landscape. Both camps have been locked in a supremacy battle since Fubara assumed office, with the contest now spilling into party structures and electoral processes.
Observers note that the controversy over the screening list could further strain cohesion within the APC, potentially weakening its prospects in the state.
Meanwhile, opposition parties are closely monitoring the situation, with indications that they may exploit the internal crisis to strengthen their foothold in the region ahead of the next electoral cycle.
