The All Progressives Congress disqualified dozens of aspirants linked to Governor Siminalayi Fubara from the Rivers State House of Assembly primaries. The national secretariat and screening committee took the action ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress screened 98 aspirants. Party officials cleared only 33 aspirants while they disqualified 65 others.
Reports indicated that all 32 aspirants aligned with Governor Siminalayi Fubara failed to scale through the process. In contrast, most cleared candidates maintained close ties with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike.
Former factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly Victor Oko-Jumbo appeared among those disqualified. Other affected aspirants included loyalists such as Sokari Goodboy and several serving lawmakers who supported Governor Siminalayi Fubara during the state political crisis.
The screening committee cited reasons that included issues with party dues, documentation, and eligibility under APC guidelines.
The disqualifications occurred amid the long-running feud between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor Nyesom Wike. Many Fubara supporters had defected to the APC seeking a new platform.
However, the screening outcome left them without clearance to contest the primaries. Meanwhile, incumbent assembly members aligned with Nyesom Wike advanced in the process.
Some disqualified aspirants filed appeals before the APC appeal panel. Party leaders maintained that the exercise followed due process and APC constitution. The development heightened political tension in Rivers State as preparations for the 2027 polls gathered momentum.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his camp faced a major setback in their attempt to build influence within the APC.
