APC Clears 33 Pro-Wike Lawmakers for Rivers Assembly Primaries, Disqualifies 65 Others

The All Progressives Congress Screening Committee for the Rivers State House of Assembly has cleared 33 aspirants to contest the party’s primaries ahead of the 2027 elections, while disqualifying 65 others.

The final report, released on Monday following a two-day screening exercise in Port Harcourt, showed that all 29 serving members of the State Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, were cleared to participate. Among those cleared is the Deputy Speaker, Dumle Maol.

However, all 32 aspirants adopted by Governor Siminalayi Fubara were disqualified. These include the former factional speaker, Victor Oko-Jumbo, and two other lawmakers loyal to the governor.

The screening committee stated that the exercise was conducted with transparency and fairness. It noted that the process was largely peaceful except for an incident involving Oko-Jumbo, who reportedly insisted on entering the screening venue with a retinue of security aides, leading to a disagreement with police officers on duty. The situation was brought under control.

The committee also reported that one aspirant, Tonye Garrick Tom-George, who is seeking the Asari Toru 1 seat, allegedly attempted to bribe committee members by handing over an envelope containing money along with his passport photograph. The matter was reported to the police.

Reasons given for disqualification of the 65 aspirants included nomination by persons who are not financially up to date with party dues, inducement and attempted bribery, submission of unsworn affidavits, failure to present voters cards or party membership slips, conflicting dates of birth, insufficient nominators, and invalid affidavits among others.

The committee concluded that the screening exercise was conducted in substantial compliance with the party’s constitution and guidelines.