All progressive Congress (APC ), disqualifies aspirants who is believed to be supporting governor Siminalyi Fubara from running in the APC’s house of Assembly primaries.
On Monday a report just obtained by the screening committee Obtained by Sahara Reporters. It said 98 aspirants presented themselves for screening. On may 7 and 10 2026. Out of the number 98 aspirants only 33 were allowed to Contest. The Committee said the rest of the 65 were removed for being guilty of one Offence or the other. Allegedly.
What brought about the mass disqualifications was solely based on Article 9.3 of the APC Constitution that States the Right to the Right to vote and be voted for. Only members who are fully registered and have paid all their dues can vote or contest.
Sources inside the APC has revealed that most of the disqualified aspirants are close to Governor Fubara who recently joined APC because of the fight between Fubara and his former boss, Nyesom Wike who is currently the minister Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who has been trying to be maintain Control of the Rivers State politics.
The Committee insisted it enforced the party’s financial membership Policy. Claiming the nomination forms of the affected aspirants were backed by individuals who had not paid their party’s dues
During the panel of the Screening at the APC Office in Port Harcourt that led to the drama. The Committee was led by Rt. Hon. Muraina Ajibola. A bribery case involving Mr Tonye Garrick Tom-George was reported. A Contestant for the Asari Toru 1 Constituency.
The Committee reported that, Tom-George allegedly Submitted an envelope Containing cash alongside his passport photo the Committee assumed he wanted to bribe them to pass his Screening
The case was immediately reported to the police. and that brought to the disqualification of Tom-George for “inducement and attempted bribery of Committee members”
The Committee also State that Mr. Victor Oko Jumbo did not behave well, he Insisted on gaining access to in the Screening venue that was filled many Security men this resulted to a huge fight which attracted the police officers on duty, but the situation was eventually calmed.
Aside from politics and bribery the Committee gave other reasons why 65 aspirants were disqualified, Some were guilty of “submitting affidavits that were not sworn, some didn’t bring their voters card or APC membership card, Some had different dates of birth on their papers many did not also get Enough people to nominate them”
Only 33 Aspirant Successfully passed the Screening Exercise All of them were said to be loyal to FCT Minister Wike. Some of the people cleared are Maol Dumle, Major M. Jack, Nwabochi Frankline, Enemi Alabo George and Tonye Smart Adoki.
The Committee Said Hon Ishaku Tanko Yamawo as Secretary and Samuel Danjuma as a member, that their disqualifications were necessary in order to protect “the democratic ideals and progressive principles of the party.”
The whole Screening process has caused many talks in Rivers State and even outside the State. Many people are saying the disqualification is too much and it looks like a plan to remove Fubara supporters from APC. Some other people are saying the Committee did the right thing because rules are rules and if you don’t follow the rules you should be disqualified. The APC State Chairman has not made any Statement about the Screening but many people are waiting to hear from him. The cleared aspirants are already preparing for the primaries that will come up next month. While the disqualified aspirants are planning to write petition to the APC National Working Committee in Abuja. Some of them say they will go to court if the party don’t listen to them. The fight between Wike and Fubara is now entering APC and many people believe it will affect the 2027 election in Rivers State. For now everybody is watching to see what will happen next in the Rivers APC.
