APC Disqualifies Fubara Loyalists From Rivers Assembly Primaries, Clears Aspirants Linked To Wike

Port Harcourt, Rivers State– The All Progressives Congress (APC) has disqualified dozens of aspirants perceived to be loyal to Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, from participating in the party’s primaries for the Rivers State House of Assembly.

A screening report on Monday showed that the APC Screening Committee cleared only 33 out of 98 aspirants who appeared before it for the exercise conducted on May 9 and 10, 2026, at the party’s state secretariat in Port Harcourt.

According to the report, 65 aspirants were screened out over what the committee described as multiple constitutional and procedural violations.

The development comes amid the prolonged political battle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, whose loyalists are battling to retain political control of Rivers State.

SaharaReporters reports that sources within the APC explained that many of those disqualified were politicians believed to be aligned with Governor Fubara and who recently moved toward the APC platform amid the continuing crisis in the state.

The report indicated that the committee relied heavily on Article 9.3 of the APC Constitution, which provides that only “fully registered and financially up-to-date members” are eligible to vote or be voted for in party activities.

According to the committee, several aspirants failed to meet the party’s financial obligations requirement, while others allegedly submitted nominations endorsed by party members who were themselves not financially up to date.

Among those listed as “Not Cleared” in the report are Orubibanugha Timothy, Chime Eguma Ezebulike, Onyema Loveday Hechiaru, and Tonye Briggs Oniyide.

The committee further cited multiple technical and documentary deficiencies as reasons for the mass disqualification.

These included the “submission of unsworn affidavits,” failure to present valid voter’s cards or party membership slips, discrepancies in dates of birth, submission of affidavits that allegedly failed to disclose material particulars relating to NECO certificates, as well as failure by some aspirants to secure the constitutionally required three nominators per ward.

The screening exercise was also reportedly marred by controversy and security incidents.

According to the report signed by the Chairman of the Screening Committee, Rt. Hon. Muraina Ajibola, one of the aspirants, Mr. Tonye Garrick Tom-George, who contested for the Asari Toru 1 seat, was disqualified over alleged bribery and inducement.

The committee alleged that Tom-George approached members of the screening panel and handed over an envelope containing money alongside his passport photograph in what it described as “an apparent attempt to improperly influence the screening process”.

“The matter was immediately reported to the police,” the report stated.

Consequently, the aspirant was disqualified on grounds of “inducement and attempted bribery of committee members”.

Another dramatic moment reportedly occurred when an aspirant identified as Mr. Victor Oko Jumbo allegedly arrived at the screening venue with a convoy of security aides and insisted on gaining access with them.

The committee said the action led to a confrontation with police officers stationed at the venue before security personnel eventually restored order.

The report noted that the committee viewed the conduct as a breach of the screening guidelines and venue protocol.

Meanwhile, the 33 aspirants who were eventually cleared by the committee are said to be largely politicians loyal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Those cleared to participate in the forthcoming primaries include Maol Dumle, Major M. Jack, Nwabochi Frankline, Enemi Alabo George, and Tonye Smart Adoki.

The screening committee, which had Hon. Ishaku Tanko Yamawo serving as Secretary and Samuel Danjuma as a member, defended its decisions, insisting that the disqualifications were carried out in line with the constitution and democratic principles of the party.

The committee stated that the exercise was necessary to preserve the “democratic ideals and progressive principles of the Party”.

However, political observers and party insiders fear that the large-scale disqualification of aspirants linked to Governor Fubara may trigger another round of legal disputes and worsen tensions within the APC in Rivers State.

The latest development is also expected to intensify the political hostility between the camps loyal to Governor Fubara and Minister Wike, whose rivalry has continued to shape the political landscape of Rivers State since the governor fell out with his predecessor after assuming office.

The Rivers political crisis has in recent months resulted in fierce battles over the control of the state assembly, party structures, and local political machinery, with both camps struggling for dominance ahead of future elections.