Several loyalists of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, were absent from the final list of cleared aspirants released by the All Progressives Congress for the Rivers State House of Assembly primaries, in a development seen as strengthening the influence of allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, ahead of the 2027 elections.
Among those excluded are former factional Speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo, and former Obio/Akpor Local Government Chairman, Chijioke Ihunwo, both considered key allies of Governor Fubara during the prolonged political crisis in the state.
The duo had earlier been listed among 65 aspirants disqualified by the party’s screening committee.
Although some of the affected aspirants reportedly filed appeals before a committee chaired by Abdul Mahmud, no official communication on the outcome of the appeal process was made public before the release of the final list by the party’s National Secretariat.
The document, however, cleared several figures believed to be aligned with Wike, including Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Dumle Maol, House Leader, Major Jack, and 34 other aspirants contesting seats across the state’s 32 constituencies.
A screening list released by the APC showed that more than 60 aspirants were not cleared to contest the assembly primaries across various constituencies in the state.
Several of those affected are believed to be loyalists of Fubara and members of his political camp amid the lingering crisis in Rivers politics.
Among those not cleared are Berebupakabo Isaac Sekibo, Tamunodiepriye Fubara Goodluck Ohaka, Tonye Garrick Tom-George, Prince Emukighro Fubara, and Tamunobaraiba George.
The list also showed that aspirants from constituencies including Okrika, Khana, Omuma, Ahoada East, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, Andoni and Akuku-Toru were affected by the screening outcome.
The outcome is expected to further deepen the political divide within Rivers State, as the APC primary structure appears to have tilted in favour of the Wike-backed bloc.
Reacting to the development, Rivers APC Publicity Secretary, Chibuike Ikenga, said the final list was transmitted by the party’s national leadership.
He advised aspirants to verify their status at the party secretariat located along the Port Harcourt/Aba Express Road in Port Harcourt, noting that the publication was strictly for verification purposes.
