Fresh cracks have emerged within the All Progressives Congress in Rivers State after the party’s House of Assembly Screening Committee disqualified 65 aspirants believed to be loyal to Governor Siminalayi Fubara and former governorship candidate Tonye Cole ahead of the party primaries.
The committee, headed by Muraina Ajibola, cleared only 33 aspirants reportedly aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in a move that is already generating controversy within the party.
Documents from the screening panel showed that the affected aspirants were disqualified over alleged irregularities ranging from documentation issues to violations of party guidelines.
Among the reasons cited by the committee were alleged inducement and attempted bribery of screening officials, submission of unsworn affidavits, failure to present voter cards, and inability to provide valid party membership slips or cards.
The panel also listed conflicting dates of birth, inconsistencies in names across submitted documents, irregular membership numbers linked to nominators, and failure to meet the mandatory nomination requirements across wards.
Part of the committee’s report stated:
“Some aspirants failed to provide sufficient nominators with the required spread of at least three nominators per ward, while several affidavits submitted did not disclose material particulars relating to NECO certificates.”
The development is likely to heighten political tensions within the Rivers APC, where rival blocs loyal to Fubara and Wike have continued to battle for influence over the party structure.
The latest outcome is being viewed by political observers as a major boost for the Wike-backed faction ahead of the primaries, while also raising concerns over possible disputes and legal challenges from aggrieved aspirants.
Efforts to obtain official reactions from allies of Governor Fubara and Tonye Cole were unsuccessful as of press time.
