The political influence of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, came into sharp focus on Saturday as the All Progressives Congress (APC) concluded its House of Representatives direct primaries in Rivers State, producing candidates across 11 federal constituencies ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The exercise returned six serving members of the House of Representatives for another term bid, a development political observers say reflects the consolidation of the Wike-aligned political structure within the Rivers APC and its growing grip on the party’s internal electoral processes.
Also among the winners was the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, who clinched the APC ticket for Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency, alongside a mix of returning lawmakers and new entrants into the Green Chamber race.
Party officials announced the outcome as follows:
Khana/Gokana — Dumnamene Dekor
Eleme/Tai/Oyigbo — Uche Felix Nwaeke
Abua-Odual/Ahoada East — Solomon Bob
Ahoada West/Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni — Victor Chukwuemele Obuzor
Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru — Isobo Jack
Andoni/Opobo-Nkoro — Frederick Apiafi
Degema/Bonny — Hart Cyril
Obio/Akpor — Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule
Okrika/Ogu-Bolo — Linda Stewart
Port Harcourt II — Chigeru Amadi
Port Harcourt I — Igwe Precious
Six sitting lawmakers were among those who secured return tickets, a development widely viewed within political circles as evidence of sustained dominance by the Wike-aligned bloc over the party’s candidate selection architecture in the state.
A senior party official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the process as “a coordinated outcome driven by established political structures and deep grassroots networks across the state.”
Analysts say the results further underscore Wike’s continued political leverage within Rivers APC, even as broader alignments and internal recalibrations continue to shape the state’s evolving political landscape.
With the primaries concluded, attention is now shifting to the 2027 general elections, where the APC is expected to field a blend of incumbents and fresh contenders in a bid to strengthen its electoral competitiveness across Rivers State’s federal constituencies.
